
Glass _^l4^^^ 

COPYKIGHT DEPOSIT. 



•X 



r.-.-:^ ///""Ta.;. a'. 




f- " ^" jf/i^yr^t) i/^z^va. 



S^-^yu.^ ^tS?~lSCU»^ 



Facsimile of map in Crevecoeur's "f-cttres d'un Ciilti' 
L'oualstiug of sketchruaps of the Miiakiugum, Scioto, uiui Big Beave '" liveis. based on Int 



given by Wlilte Eyes and White Mingo, Indian ( 



THE REVOLUTION ON THE UPPER 
OHIO, \lis-^lll 



DRAPER SERIES, VOLUME II 



THE REVOLUTION 



ON THE 



Upper Ohio, 1775-1777 



Compiled from the Draper Manuscripts in the 
Library of the Wisconsin Historical Society 
and published at the charge of the Wisconsin 
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution 



EDITED BY 



REUBEN GOLD THWAITES, LL. D, 

Secretary of the Society 



LOUISE PHELPS KELLOGG, PH.D. 

Editorial Assistant on the Society's Staflf 







MADISON 
Wisconsin Historical Society 

1908 



:/ 









J 



Copyright, 1908 
By the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 



Published February. 1908 
Twelve Hundred Copies 



MADISON 
Democrat Printing Company 



CONTENTS 





Page 


Introduction. The Editors 


ix 


Explanation ..... 


XX 


Documents 




Movement to Kentucky ; Frontier Forts " . 


I 


Letter for Cornstalk . . . . . 


7 


Orders for the Militia . . . . . 


8 


Virginia hears of Lexington and Concord 


ID 


Garrison at Point Pleasant 


12 


Affairs at Fort Pitt .... 


17 


Virginia arms ..... 


21 


Treaty at Pittsburgh, 1775 . 


25 


British Report of Treaty .... 


127 


Connolly's Plot ..... 


136 


ihe Frontiers, early in 1776 . . . . 


143 


A Captain's Commission .... 


145 


Information regarding Detroit 


147 


Indians visit Niagara .... 


151 


Alarm in Kentucky .... 


153 


Protection for the Frontier- 


155 


Garrison for Point Pleasant; Indian Affairs 


158 


Conference at Fort Pitt .... 


159 


Report from Niagara ; neutrality to be maintained 


171 


Frontiers of Virginia^ .... 


. 172 


News from Fort Randolph 


185 


Indian depredations . . . 188, 205, 20 


9, 249 


Threatened hostilities . . . 190, 21 


8, 245 



Yi 



CONTENTS 



Forts on the Ohio . 

Reinforcements ordered 

Disposition of the Indian Tribes 

Fort Randolph re-inforced 

News from WilHamsburgh 

Treaty of 1776 

Situation at Grave Creek . 

Supplies from New Orleans 

Militia arrangements 

Pluggy's Town Expedition ordered 

Situation at Wheeling 

Allies to be protected 

Pluggy's Town Expedition abandoned 

Return of Military Stores at Fort Pitt 



Page 

. 195 

. 196 

. 199 
204, 209, 239 

. 214 

. 216 

. 224 

. 226 

. 229 

. 236 

. 242 

. 244 

. 247 

. 258 



Index 



259 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

Map from Crevecoeur's Lettres d'un Cultivateur Ameri- 
cain (Paris, 1787), consisting of sketch-maps of the 
Muskingum, Scioto, and Big Beaver rivers Frontispiece 

Portrait of George Morgan (silhouette) . . .30 

Portrait of Peyton Randolph 

Portrait of Lewis Morris . 

Portrait of James Wilson . 

Portrait of Gov. Henry Hamilton . 

Portrait of Governor Blacksnake, Seneca chief . . 160 

Portrait of Gyantwahchia (or John Abeel, John the Corn- 
planter), Shawnee chief . . • .162 

Portrait of R?d Jacket, Seneca chief . . .164 

Portrait of Gov. Patrick Henry . . . .232 



66 

76 

90 

128 



INTRODUCTION 



In May, 1905, the Society published from the 
Draper Manuscript Collection in its possession, a 
Documentary History of Dunmore's War, 1//4. 
While the material was selected, annotated, and put 
through the press by the present Editors, the bill for 
printing was generously met by the Wisconsin Society 
of the Sons of the American Revolution. The latter 
organization kindly offered to pay for the printing of a 
second Draper volume, edited at the cost of the Soci- 
ety, to be in due course succeeded, the hope was ex- 
pressed, by a third and possibly others. This proposi- 
tion being accepted it was determined to follow D'^n- 
more's War with two volumes, both bearing upon the 
conduct of the Revolutionary War on the Upper Ohio 
River. The present is the first of these. 

We were led to this selection from the Wisconsin 
Historical Society's abundant store of manuscript 
sources, by considerations of logical sequence. The 
events herein chronicled immediately succeeded and 
in considerable degree were the direct outgrowth of 
Dunmore's War. In a sense the district involved was 
miuch the same as that affected by his lordship's opera- 
tions ; the military leaders were in many cases those 
who had served in the expedition of 1774; the rank 
and file was composed of the like race of fearless, in- 



X REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

dependent frontiersmen, who fretted at martial dis- 
cipline and democratized the militia which had been 
organized for the defense of their homes against the 
aborigines. 

The documents chosen for publication herein do not 
afford a continuous history of any one campaign or 
group of m.en. They do, however, shed light upon 
the principal incidents and the prominent characters 
of the long frontier stretching from the Greenbrier 
region in southwestern V^irginia to the post at Kit- 
tanning on the Upper Allegheny. The time is the 
first two years of the Revolutionary struggle — March, 
1775, to May, 1777, inclusive — and deals with the de- 
fense of the border while still in the hands of the 
militia of the Western counties. The coming to Fort 
Pitt, June 1, 1777, of an officer of Continental rank, 
sent by Congress to take command of the West, 
marked an epoch in the military history of the region. 
It is with the advent of General Hand that our ini- 
tial volume closes. This earlier history of the Revolu- 
tion in the trans-Alleghany region has been but little 
known or understood. Comparatively few documents 
concerning it have thus far been published ; secondary- 
accounts in general dismiss the subject with a hasty 
paragraph. It is hoped that the present publication 
of contemporary material will lead to a more con- 
siderate treatment of what we believe to be an inter- 
esting and significant period. 

It will be remembered by readers of the preceding 
volume, that when Lord Dunmore left the frontier 
in the autumn of 1774, bearing with him the Shawnee 
hostages, he embodied a small garrison at Fort Dun- 



INTRODUCTION xi 

more, and another at Fort Blair near the mouth of 
the Kanawha. They were the only fortifications up- 
on the frontier at the beginning of 1775. When the 
governor found himself involved in quarrels with the 
colonists, one of his last executive acts was to order 
the evacuation of these posts. The colonists there- 
upon quickly seized the first, which reverted to its 
earlier name of Pitt; Fort Blair was actually evacu- 
ated, and its buildings burned by lurking Indians dur- 
ing the summer of 1775. 

The attitude of the Indians towards the colonial 
cause was of vital importance to the Western bor- 
derers. Lord Dunmore's treaty of the previous autumn 
had been but provisional. The Shawnee hostages 
were still in his hands; the Mingo prisoners were in 
confinement at Fort Pitt; his lordship had promised 
the Indians to come to Fort Pitt in the spring and 
arrange a permanent peace. Meanwhile his agent 
upon the frontier. Dr. John Connolly, was a professed 
Loyalist. Connolly dismissed the imprisoned Mingo 
to their homes, with messages urging their people to 
rely upon the English king, their father, and to come 
to Fort Pitt to treat with him as the representative of 
the governor. In his Narrative, Connolly asserts that 
it was his "fiirst work to convene the Indians to- a 
treaty, restore the prisoners, and endeavour to incline 
them to espouse the royal cause. "^ 

Meanwhile the people of West Augusta district had 
formed a committee of safety. This met at Pitts- 
burgh early in May, and drafted a petition to Con- 



1 Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, xii. 
p. 314. 



xii REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

gress setting forth their fear of a rupture with the 
Indians on account of Lord Dunmore's conduct.- The 
matter was "referred to the delegates from Virginia 
and Pennsylvania, the former of whom took cogniz- 
ance thereof in their state assembly, which appointed 
commissioners to meet the tribesmen and endeavor 
to complete the peace in favor of the colonies. Later, 
Congress appointed a like commission, and the two 
met jointly at Pittsburgh in September. 

Rumors of the Revolutionary conflict had by early 
summer reached the Indian towns, resulting in much 
confusion and misunderstanding among the aborigines. 
Upon one occasion Lord Dunmore had employed the 
Shawnee hostages with him as a personal guard 
against colonial vioilence. They not unnaturally, 
therefore, fancied themselves likewise hated by the 
''Long Knives," and destined to fall victims to the 
enmity of the latter. Similar suspicions were excited 
in the Indian villages by Loyalist traders, and the 
king's Indian agents were already gathering the 
Northern tribes to resist the proposed American in- 
vasion of Canada. 

Whether British or Americans were first to enroll 
the tribesm.en in their armies is even now a mooted 
question. There were diflferences" in the situation 
The slight aid that the Americans might receive from 
Indian warriors enlisted in their interest, was far out- 
weighed by the danger of retaliatory attacks to which 
they thereby exposed their long and weak frontier. 
Obviously, their safest policy was to secure native 



-Journals of Continental Congress (new ed.), ii, p. 76 



INTRODUCTION xiii 

neutrality. To the British^ on, the other hand, the 
employment of barbarian allies had long been cus- 
tomary in colonial wars. Their incursions would 
create a needed diversion upon the frontier. As early 
as 1775, secret orders were received fro^m the minis- 
try, not only to enlist the sympathies of the tribes- 
men, but actually to enroll them in the royal armies.^ 

On the Western border, the Americans were 
prompt. Connolly's earlier treaty had had the effect 
somewhat to allay the fears of the warriors. The 
influence of a Frenchman in the British interest, sent 
from D'etroit to the Indian villages with belts of 
wampum, was quickly counteracted by that of the 
Virginia envoy, Capt. James Wood. In Septembeir, 
1775, there gathered at Pittsburgh the largest Indian 
delegation ever seen at this frontier fort — Ottawa and 
Wyandot from the neighborhood of Detroit; Mingo, 
Shawnee, and Delawares from the Ohio valley; 
Seneca from, the Upper Allegheny. All united in a 
pledge of peace, friendship, and neutrality with the 
new American nation. 

The importance of these early negotiations can 
hardly be overestimated. Not only was thereby set 
free from both the Pennsylvania and Virginia fron- 
tiers, a body of competent riflemen who hastened east- 
w^ard to swell the Continental army; but the way was 
opened for Kentucky settlement, which involved the 
general occupation of Western territojry, and ulti- 
mately the settlement of the Western boundary at the 
Treaty of Paris. Had the Pittsburgh treaty proved 



^ Amer. Archives, 4th series, iii, p. 6; New York Historical 
Society Proceedings, 1845, p. 167. 



xiv REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

unsuccessful, the entire trans-AUeghany region must 
surely have been evacuated, George Rogers Clark's 
expeditions against Kaskaskia and Vincennes could 
hairdly have occurred, and the West might easily have 
reverted to aboriginal occupation, and become a re- 
serve for the British fur-trade. 

Another secret danger averted by the vigilance of 
the colonial authorities, was that known as "Con- 
nolly's Plot." This was a scheme not entirely im- 
practicable; with the aid of troops from Canada and 
the contingents already statoned at Niagara, Detroit, 
and the Illinois, it would not have been difficult to 
capture the militia garrison at Fort Pitt and force a 
passage into) the heart of Virginia, before an invasion 
from that quarter was suspected. The arrest of 
Connolly and his agents, in the autumn of 1775, not 
only checked this enterprise, but led to the evacua- 
tion of the Illinois by British military forces, and their 
concentration at Detroit. 

Aside from the machinations of both Indians and 
Royalists, the American commandant at Pittsburgh 
had reason tO' fear an invasion from the British fort 
at Niagara. Here the attitude of the Allegheny 
Seneca stood the colonists in good stead. While not 
averse to negotiating with their British father at 
Niagara, they announced to both contestants that the 
passage of an army from either side through their 
territory would be regarded as an act of war, to be 
stoutly opposed by the confederated Iroquois. This 
no doubt saved Fort Pitt from a siege similar to that 
sustained by Fort Stanwix in 1777. 

The frontier has ever been a region of daring ad- 



INTRODUCTION xv 

venture and picturesque achievement. One exploit 
worthy of a place among the hero tales of American 
history, had its origin on the Upper Ohio during the 
early Revolutionary years. The chief need of the 
rebellious colonists was gunpowder. The English 
commandant at Niagara told the Indian tribesmen 
that the colonists would soon be beaten, since they 
had no powder and could no longer secure any from 
the mother country. Urged by this necessity, young 
Capt. George Gibson of the Virginia line, who had 
formerly been a trader on the lower reaches of the 
Ohio, conceived the project of securing a supply 
from the Spanish authorities at New Orleans, and 
transporting it up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to 
Fort Pitt. The Virginia authorities sanctioned the 
scheme. Choosing as his co-operator another noted 
frontier officer, Lieut. William Linn, the two set forth 
in a skiff, under the guise of Indian traders, and after 
a perilous journey arrived at their destination. At 
New Orleans, fresh difficulties awaited them. Governor 
Galvez, although favorable to the Americans, was 
disinclined to break with the British consul, who sus- 
pected the strangers, and inveighed against their pres- 
ence. By a private undestanding, therefore, Gibson 
was thrown into prison, and at once all British sus- 
picions were lulled. 

Meanwhile Oliver Pollock, an American sympa- 
thizer residing at New Orleans, aided Linn to secure 
the coveted powder from the Spanish authorities. With 
forty-three men in several barges the latter left New 
Orleans September 22nd, with a cargo of ninety-eight 
barrels (over 9,000 pounds) of the precious explosive. 



xvi REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

After severe hardships, and much suffering from ill- 
ness and lack of provisions, the expedition reached 
Arkansas Post on the twenty-sixth of November, be- 
ing received with marked kindness and courtesy by 
the Spanish commandant/ There the adventur- 
ers passed the winter hunting, and curing meat for 
the spring advance. 

Gibson, now released from confinement, returned 
to Virginia by sea, carrying news of his successful 
undertaking. Orders were sent out by the Virginia 
authorities to hasten a detachment to the aid of Linn, 
but that officer was beforehand with his plans. By 
the third of March he had reached the mouth of the 
Ohio, where an American from Kaskaskia met him 
with provisions. The Spanish at St. Louis, not so 
friendly as their colleagues farther south, sent a band 
of Indians to intercept the party at the Falls of the 
Ohio (Lo'uisville) ; but before the arrival of the sav- 
ages the little company had already passed, and by the 
first of May safely landed the valuable cargo at 
Wheeling. For brilliancy of conception, cool daring, 
and successful accomplishment, this exploit deserves 
high "rank among the minor achievements of that he- 
roic time. 

During the year 1776 the rigorous work of defense 
went forward. The line of forts was extended, the 
militia enrolled and drilled, and scouting parties main- 
rained both in the interior and along the Ohio bound- 
ary- In the autumn, while Congressional commis- 



* Letter of Linn to Pollock, dated "Arkansaws, Novr. 30, 
177^," Draper MSS., 60J277. 



INTRODUCTION xvii 

sioners were conducting negotiations at Pittsburgh, a 
general alarm was sounded. A number of men were 
killed and scalped along the border, families hastily 
moved in from outlying settlements, or "forted" in 
their neighborhood, and consternation prevailed. In 
Kentucky, a party carrying gunpowder to the forts 
was attacked, several killed, and the rest scattered, 
and all but three of the posts in that district were 
abandoned. 

Most of these breaches of the treaty signed by the 
Indians in 1775 were the work of a small body of ir- 
reconcilables, known as Pluggy's Band. An expedi- 
tion to invade their territory and burn the village was 
called out by Congress, and only abandoned through 
fear of thereby inciting a general Indian war. The win- 
ter of 1776-77 was an anxious one, and with the open- 
ing of the season of 1777 advices made it certain that 
the border would be harried by tribesmen under British 
influence. A call was thereupon made for a unified 
national defense, and Gen. Edward Hand, an experi- 
enced Continental officer, sent to Fort Pitt to take 
command. The period of partial peace was over, that 
of active warfare at hand. 

The prompt ability with which the backwoodsmen 
managed their own affairs during the early years of 
the Revolution in the West, is worthy of notice. They 
performed a double duty with energy and loyalty. Or- 
ganizing temporary governments with' the militia com- 
pany as a unit, and engaged in vigorously defending 
their own homes from savage neighbors, they never- 
theless loyally supported the newly-constituted, but 
far-distant, state authorities both with men and eqtiip- 



xviii REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

ment. The Eastern armies were to a considerable 
degree recruited from the frontiersmen ; Western rifle- 
men formed a valuable adjunct of the Continental 
forces. The first contingent from beyond New Eng- 
land to join Washington at Cambridge, was Daniel 
Morgan's battalion of sharpshooters from the upland 
border of Virginia. 

But if loyalty was characteristic of the frontier, 
there also lurked treachery and treason. The best 
and the worst of the race gather upon the borders of 
civilization. As usual, there were those not averse to 
an Indian war for the sake of the spoils and the ex- 
citement. To keep faith with the Indians, on the part 
of the authoirities, proved often exceedingly difficult. 
At the beginning of ,the Treaty of Pittsburgh the 
White iMingo, one of the chiefs most friendly to the 
American cause, narrowly escaped assassination. In- 
dian envoys not infrequently suffered harsh treatment 
firom fanatical and enfuriated militiamen. The hor- 
rors of Indian warfare were not entirely due to Brit- 
ish incitement. In many ^cases, American frontiers- 
men but reaped the bitter harvest of their own rash 
deeds. 

It should not be overlooked, however, that during 
these fateful years armed encounters with British and 
Indians were but incidents in the main purpose of the 
pioneer, who sought to occupy and subdue the wild 
land, to make it fruitful and blossom, and fill it with 
American homes. Kentucky was first permanently 
settled during the early years of the Revolution. The 
frontier of Virginia, while restrained within the 
limits of the territory south of the Ohio, was fast be- 



INTRODUCTION xix 

ing strewn by farms and small communities. The im- 
portance of Pittsburgh and Wheeling as Western ports 
of entry was being recognized. The West was becom- 
ing homogeneous, self-conscious, nationalistic. 

We are under obligations to the Rev. Joseph H. 
Bausman, of Rochester, Pa., for permission to copy 
the silhouette 0)f Col. George Morgan, given in his 
History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Will- 
iam Cabell Rives of Washington, D. C, has enabled 
us to add greatly to the value of the volume by fur- 
nishing therefor a careful transcript of the official re- 
port of the treaty held at Pittsburgh in September and 
October, 1775, the original manuscript of which he 
inherited from his ancestor. Dr. Thomas Walker, 
one of the treaty commissioners. Valuable assistance 
in the reading of the proof of the entire volume has 
been rendered by Miss Annie A. Nunns of the Soci- 
ety's staff. 

R. G. T. 

L. P. K. 



EXPLANATORY 



Following the names of the writer and recipient of 
each document is given its press-mark in the Draper 
Manuscript Collection, by which the original can read- 
ily be identified if its further consultation is desired. 
The capital letter or letters refer to the series to which 
the document belongs; the volume number precedes 
the series letter, the folio or page number follows. 
E. g., the press-mark 4QQ7 means Vol. 4 of the Pres- 
ton Papers, p. 7 ; the press-mark 45J101 is equivalent 
to Vol. 45 of the George Rogers Clark Papers, p. 101. 

Immediately after the press-mark, the nature of the 
document is indicated by the descriptive initials cus- 
tomarily employed in describing manuscripts : 

A. L. — autograph letter unsigned (usually a draft 
in the author's handwriting). 

A. L. S. — autograph letter signed. 

L. S. — letter signed (text being in another's hand- 
writing) . 

D. S. ■ — document signed. 



777^ REVOLUTION ON THE UPPER 
OHIO, 1115-nil 



MOVEMENT TO KENTUCKY; FRONTIER PORTS 

[Col. William Preston to Lord Dunmore.i 4QQ7 — A. L., 
draft in Preston's handwriting.] 

FiNCASTLE, March lotii. 1775 
My Lord — Herewith your Lordship will receive 
two Letters from Cap* RusselP & Col^ Henderson's 
Proposals for Settling the Lands on the Ohio under 
the Company's Purchase ; as one of the Letters relate 
chiefly to that Transaction I shall only observe that 
between five hundred and a Thousand Cherokees came 
in & that the whole Business was to be concluded this 
Week, as the Indians had no Objections to the Sale." 



1 For biographical sketches of Lord Dunmore and Col. Will- 
iam Preston, see Documentary History of Dunmore's War 
(Madison, Wis., 1905), pp. 425-431. — Ed. 

2 A sketch of William Russell will be found in Ihid., p. 6, 
note 9. — Ed. 

3 Richard Henderson, a prominent North Carolinian, con- 
ceived the plan of settling a large tract of land between the 
Kentucky and Cumberland rivers, to be purchased from the 
Cherokee Indians. For the carrying out of his scheme, he 
organized the Transylvania Company, purchased goods to the 
value of ;£io,ooo sterling, and invited the Cherokee to hold a 
treaty at Sycamore Shoals, on the Watauga River. Early in 
March, 1775, the Indians began arriving, and about twelve 
hundred in all collected. After some opposition on the part of 

Si 



2 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

That a great Number of Hands are employed in cut- 
ting a Waggon Road* through Mockeson & Cumber- 
land Gaps' ^ to the Kentucky which they expect to 
compleat before Planting time; & that at least 500 
People are preparing to go out this Spring from Caro- 
lina beside great Numbers from Virg^ to Settle there 
& that the Company intends to have a Treaty with 



Dragging Canoe and his band, the purchase was consum- 
mated on March 17, the treaty being signed by Oconastota, 
Little Carpenter, and many prominent chiefs. The Transyl- 
vania Company settled Boonesborough, opened a land-office, 
and held one legislative session in Kentucky. But their 
claim was protested by North Carolina, Virginia, and the 
Kentucky settlers already on the ground. In 1778 the Virginia 
legislature granted the Transylvania Company 200,000 acres 
of land on Green River as indemnity for their expense in set- 
tling Kentucky. 

Henderson went out with the first group of settlers, his 
journal on that trip being among the Draper MSS., iCC. In 
1779 he was commissioner from his state for extending west- 
ward the boundary line between it and Virginia, and visited 
Boonesborough in the spring of 1780. After serving in one 
session of the North Carolina Assembly, Henderson died at 
his home in Granville County, Jan. 30, 1785. The above ac- 
count is abridged from a sketch by Dr. Lyman C. Draper in 
Draper MSS., 3B341-345, 5B83.— Ed. 

* Before tEe conclusion of the treaty at Watauga, Henderson 
dispatched Daniel Boone with a company of experienced 
woodsmen to open a road to the Kentucky River, a distance 
of some two hundred miles. This was the origin of the well- 
known Wilderness Road, later traversed by thousands of emi- 
grants into the new West. It was a wagon-road only as far 
as Powell's Valley; after that, until 1792, but a pack-horse 
trail. See Thomas Speed, "Wilderness Road," in Filson Club 
Publications (Louisville, 1886), No. 2. For the list of Boone's 
co-workers see R. G. Thwaites, Daniel Boone (New York, 
1902), p. 117. — Ed. 

^ For reference to Moccasin Gap see Dunmore's War, p. 60, 
note 2. Cumberland Gap was first discovered by Dr. Thomas 
Walker, April 13, 1750, and named in honor of the English 
duke of that title. See J. Stoddard Johnston, "First Explora- 
tions of Kentucky," Filson Club Publications, No. 13— Ed. 



MOVEMENT TO KENTUCKY 3 

the Wobaush Indians^ & give them a considerable 
present to Permit the Settlement on those Lands. 
The Cherokees I hear says that Col^ Donelson promised 
them £500 for the Lands above the Kentucky which 
has not been paid & therefore they believe themselves 
at liberty to sell them a second Time;^ & the Com- 
pany it is said have furnished themselves with the 
Journals of our house of Burgesses & other Authen- 
tick Papers to make it Appear that Virginia looked 
upon those Lands to be the property of the Cherokees. 
It is generally believed that had the Commissioners 
been there from this Government, & met the Indians 
before they Saw the Goods that the Sale might have 
been prevented; however that be the matter is now 
become Serious & demands the Attention of Govern- 



8 The Wabash Indians were not a distinct tribe ; this was a 
collective term for the tribes residing on or near Wabash 
River, comprising the various divisions of the Miami, with the 
Mascoutin and the Kickapoo. They frequently raided the 
territory below Kentucky River. There seems to have been 
no attempt, however, on the part of the Transylvania pro- 
prietors to communicate with the Wabash Indians. — Ed. 

'^ For the Indian purchase here referred to, see Dunmore's 
War, p. 5, note 8, also p. 20. Col. John Donelson was born in 
Maryland about 1726; but he early removed to Pittsylvania 
County, Va., where he owned iron-mills and was a man of im- 
portance, representing his county in the Virginia house of 
burgesses. In 1771 he was employed to survey the Cherokee 
boundary line. Becoming interested in Western lands, ^ he 
moved his family (1779-80) to central Tennessee. Descending 
Tennessee River with a fle^t of flat-boats, he joined James Rob- 
ertson at Nashville, and laid the foundation of that settlement. 
In 1781 he removed to Kentucky, returning to the Cumberland 
settlement in 1785. This latter year he visited Virginia, and was 
employed by Georgia to lay out a town at the Tennessee bend, 
being killed in the wilderness in the spring of 1786. His 
daughter Rachel became the wife of President Andrew Jack- 
son. — Ed. 



4 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

ment otherwise it is too likely that valuable & exten- 
sive Territory will be forever lost to Virginia. 

It has been said here that your Lordship intended 
to have those Lands Surveyed and Sold for the 
Crown at a reasonable Price. If, so, I can think of 
no step so effectual to settle that Country, as the Vir- 
ginians at least, & perhaps many of the Carolinians 
would rather Purchase even at a higher Price from 
the Crown & be assured of a good Title than run 
any Risque under the Carolina Company. But as that 
Company has declared that they will not suffer any 
Land to be Surveyed below the Kentucky, I am appre- 
hensive this step could not be taken unless the Busi- 
ness could be Supported by an armed force; & how 
that could be effected, either by the removal of the 
Garrison or a large part of it from point Pleasant^ to 
the Falls or by iraising a Company for that Purpose 
your Lordship can best determine. 

Should y^ Lordship incline to dispose of the Land 
in this or any other Manner & order it to be laid off 
in Lotts, I will cheerfully wait for my Fees until 
money can be raised out of the Sales, & should any 
unforeseen accident prevent the Sales thereof I am 
willing to run the Risque without having any charge 
against your Lordship or the Govern*, for that service. 

Tho' there are yet Lands to Survey for Officers & 
Soldiers® I was affiraid to Send out any Surveyors this 

8 For the garrison at Point Pleasant, left there at the close 
of the campaign of 1774, see Ibid., pp. 309, 310. — Ed. 

^ Preston here refers to the bounty lands granted by Gov. 
Robert Dinwiddie to the officers and soldiers from Virginia 
who took part in the French and Indian War (1754^3). 
After the king's proclamation of 1763, these lands could not 



MOVEMENT TO KENTUCKY 5 

Spring untill I first acquainted your Lordship there- 
with & untill I would receive further Instructions, & 
the rather as I have been informed by CoP Christian^^ 
and others that your Lordship intended to send me 
Instructions how to proceed in this important Business. 

The bearer Capt. Floyd who was out last year as a 
Surveyor ^^ can inform your Lordship fully of the 
Probability of settling that Country as above proposed, 
& of the Numbers who have already removed, & are 
about to remove there this Spring in order tO' plant 
Corn let the Consequences be what it will. 

Upon the whole my Lord it appears tO' me that the 
Country will very shortly be inhabited by Numbers of 
Industrious People who can not be prevented from go- 
ing there; & it now remains with your Lordship to 
take such immediate Steps as you may Judge most ex- 
pedient to encourage those People, to dispose of the 
Land for the Crown, & to secure to the purchasers 
proper Titles for the Same 

By the last returns Cap* Russell had from the Point 
he informed me that the Flour & Indian Corn there 
would not last longer than the middle of this Month, 
upon which Report I conveened several Officers who 
advised to have some Corn purchased on Clinch & 



be surveyed on Ohio waters until after the treaty of Fort 
Stanwix (1768). Washington was much interested in these 
claims, and in 1770 visited the upper Ohio on their behalf, em- 
ploying William Crawford as surveyor. The surveyors from 
Fincastle County who were down the Ohio in the spring of 
1774, were laying out these patents. See Ihid., pp. i, 7, 22-25, 
1 10-133. — Ed. 

10 For a brief biography of Col. William Christian, see 
Ihid., pp. 429, 430. — Ed. 

" For John Floyd, and a letter written while surveying in 
the West, see Ihid., pp. 7-g ; consult also pp. 42, 143, 144. — Ed. 



6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Send it on Horse back to Sandy Creek & from thence 
to the Fort by Water/- for an immediate Supply; 
but as this will be attended with considerable Expense 
to the Country I could not venture to advise Cap* 
Russell to purchase more than 75 or 100 Bushells un- 
till I would inform your Lordship thereof, which 1 
was about to do by Express had I not prevailed on 
M^. Floyd to go down, for which reason your Lord- 
ship will perhaps think proper to Order his Expen- 
ses to be repaid. 

Cap^ Russell is of opinion that CoP. Stephen 
would order Some Flour by the way of Fort Dun- 
more on an application from your Lordship.^^ It will 
be necessary either to send a Supply of Flour down, 
or have the Company discharged and the stores dis- 
posed of ; which last would discourage the settling of 
that Country; but could part, even fifty men be Sent 
to the Falls it would certainly ansv/er a good purpose 
on the present occasion. 

Should your Lordship Honour nie with any In- 
structions relative to ordering a Supply of Flour to 
the Point, or to the Surveying of the Lands on the 
Ohio I shall take the utmost Pleasure in Obeying 
them with the greatest Punctuality. 

I am Your Lordships most Ob^. & very hbl® Sevt 
W. P. 

12 Clinch River is an upper tributary of the Tennessee, on 
which a considerable settlement was beginning to spring up. 
It was contiguous to the headwaters of Sandy River, that 
affluent of the Ohio River which now forms the boundary line 
between Kentucky and West Virginia. Sandy was more easily 
navigated than the Great Kanawha, hence this suggestion with 
regard to provisioning the fort at Point Pleasant. — Ed. 

13 For Col. Adam Stephen and Fort Dunmore, see Dunmore's 
War, p. 191, note 35, and p. 35, note 60. — Ed. 



GOVERNOR AND CHIEF y 

LETTER FOR CORNSTALK 

[Edmund Winston to Col. William Preston. 4QQ8— A. L. S.] 

Bedford March 20tli, 1775 
Dear Sir — I received only last Week the Favour of 
your Letter of January the 9th. I happened to get 
early Information of Cap*. Russell's coming in, & pro- 
cured the Governor's Letter to the Corn Stalk,^* 
which Col^. Christian has before this I suppose deliv- 
ered to Capt^. Russell. The Letter from his Lord- 
ship was not so full as I could have wished, for I 
think it contained not more than twenty Words, how- 
ever it was all could be got. I wirote to Capt^. Russell 
in Jan'y last recommending my Affair to him, & now 
send another Letter of which I must trouble you to 
procure a Conveyance. After all perhaps it will be 
necessary that I should go out, and I shall be glad of 
a Line from you advising what it is proper to do on 
my Part. I am D^. Sir 

Your affectionate 

E. Winston i«^ 

To Colo. William Preston of Smithfield 



1* Russell's absence from Fort Blair, at the mouth of the 
Great Kanawha, was but temporary. Visitors to Kentucky 
called on him at his garrison in the early summer. See letter 
of June 12, post, and Draper MSS., iCC 89. For Cornstalk, the 
Shawnee chief, see sketch in Dunmore's War, pp. 432, 433. — Ed. 

15 Edmund Winston was a son of William, maternal uncle 
of Patrick Henry. Born in Hanover County about 1745, he 
inherited a considerable property, and for many years was 
judge in the Virginia courts. He married first Alice Winston, 
second Dorothea Dandridge (widow of Patrick Henry), and 
died upon his estate in Bedford in 1818. His father had in- 
vestments in Western lands, to which, doubtless, Winston re- 
fers in this letter. — Ed. 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



ORDERS FOR THE MILITIA 

[Col. William Preston to Col. William Christian. 4QQ14 — 
A. L., draft in Preston's handwriting.] 

Sir— As the Militia Law of 1757 has expired & 
the Invasion & Insurrection Laws of the same Date 
will expire in June, Probably before the Assembly can 
meet to revise those Laws therefor the Militia must 
now be regulated and Diciplined by the only Law in 
force for that Purpose I mean that of 1738.^^ And as 
the safety of the Frontier Inhabitants in a gireat meas- 
ure depends on a well regulated Militia, It is the 
Duty of every Officer in Fincastle^^ to use his Author- 
ity and Influence for that Purpose, by making them- 
selves acquainted with the only Militia Law in Force 
& as frequently as may be convenient for the People 
to call private Musters of the Respective Company's 
and by duely exercising the Soldiers under their Com- 



16 The Virginia Assembly, or House of Burgesses, met at 
Williamsburgh, May 24, 1774. Two days later it was pro- 
rogued by the governor for passing resolutions of sympathy 
with the oppressions of Massachusetts. By various proroga- 
tions, the meeting was postponed until June i, 1775, when, 
after a stormy session, the house adjourned never to re- 
assemble — the authority passing to the convention assembled 
by the people of the state. The organization of the militia 
under act of 1738 was recommended by the Virginia conven- 
tion which met at Richmond, March 20-27, and it was doubt- 
less in obedience to this request that Preston issued these 
orders. See also Force, American Archives, 4th series, ii, 
p. 169. — Ed. 

1'' Fincastle County, embracing all southwestern Virginia 
and Kentucky, had but a brief existence. Formed out of 
Botetourt in 1772, it was in 1776 superseded by the three coun- 
ties of Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky. While it 
existed, Col. William Preston was county-lieutenant, and 
Col. William Christian colonel of its militia regiment. — Ed. 



ORDERS FOR MILITIA 9 

mand, as also to see that they are provided with Arms 
& Ammunition as that Law directs ; or as nearly so 
as they Possibly can. Should any Officers have neg- 
lected to Quallify into their Commissions it is neces- 
sary they should take the first Opportunity to do so. 

And as a general Muster will be held some time 
in Sep'^. or Oct^. next of which Notice will be given. 
The Officers are to keep Just Returns of the Delinquent 
in their Companies, that they may be enabled to make 
a due report thereof on Oath to the Court Martial, 
that such Delinquents may be fined according to the 
S^'. Law. 

I would request you to give Instructions to all the 
Captains in this County agreeable to the above & ear- 
nestly Exhort them to a punctual Discharge of their 
Duty, especially as the Savages have lately committed 
some Murders on the People about to Settle to the 
Westward^® & we don't know how soon they may fall 
upon the Inhabitants. I am Sir y^ hble Serv*. 

W. P. 
May ist. 1775 

29th Ap 1775 

To Col. Christian 



18 This refers to the attack upon Boone's men, who were 
cutting a road to Kentucky; see note 4, ante. Early on the 
morning of March 25, 1775, a party of Indians crept up to 
their camp, fired upon the sleeping men, and killed Capt. Wil- 
liam Twitty and his negro, besides wounding Felix Walker. 
Two days later, the same band killed in the near neighborhood 
two men from the party of Samuel Tate. See Draper MSS., 
3B.— Ed. 



lO REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



VIRGINIA HEARS OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD 

[Rev. John Brownie to Col. William Preston. 4QQ15 — 
A. L. S.] 

D^ S^' — I look upon myself indespenciblly obligated 
to return you thanks for your two Epistles & have no 
other way to demonstrate it but by as speedy an An- 
swer as I possibly can, therefore I sit down to tell 
first the proceedings of the Pres^^^ relative to the 
semenary for the Education of youth.^^ 

^ ^ ;!; jj: ^ ^ * * 21 

What a Buzzel is amongst People about Ken- 
tuck? to hear people speak of it one Would think it 
was a new found Paradise; & I doubt not if it is 
such a place as represented but ministers will have 
thin congregations, but why need I fear that? Min- 
isters are moveable goods as well as others & stand 
in need of good land as any do, for they are bad 
Farmers. 

:4c * -^ 1^ ^ ^ * Hs2» 

19 For a sketch of Rev. John Brown see Dunmore's War, 
p. 27, note 42. — Ed. 

20 This was first called Augusta Academy, which was opened 
for students in May, 1776. Three years later it was removed 
to Lexington, and rechristened Liberty Hall. In 1782 the in- 
stitution was incorporated. Its work drew the attention of 
Washington, who in 1796 gave a considerable donation to this 
Western seminary, whereupon the trustees changed the name 
to Washington Academy. Later, it became Washington Uni- 
versit)^ and upon the death (1871) of Robert E. Lee, who had 
served as its president, received the present name of Wash- 
ington and Lee University. A subscription paper for starting 
this academy is found in Draper MSS., 7ZZ7. — Ed. 

21 The omitted portion gives the names of those appointed 
to solicit subscriptions, and the prospects of success, of which 
latter Brown was not very sanguine. — Ed. 

22 Here the original deals with family affairs, and the desire 
of Rev. James Waddell to acquire by purchase the estate of 
Springhill. — Ed. 



NEWS FROM BOSTON II 

This very moment Boston's News Struck my Ears 
& affects my Heart, tho' it is but what I expected 
we live in a terrible world (terrible indeed) when men 
of the same Nation make a merit of sheding one 
anothers Blood. I have not seen the express; but as 
I am informed that the Kings army in a Town some 
distance from Boston killed 6 of the inhabitants & 
wounded severals, for which reason the N. England 
men rose to the number of 4^^ & surrounded 1200 
upon a hill & killed 150 at the expense of 50 of their 
men perhaps you have the account more perfect than 
I.^^ 3 ships of the line with 4 Companies of marines 
are com.e to Virginia to keep us in Order, it is said 
they have taken the magazine in W :burg^* I think 
it is time for the Continent to do something for the 
deffense of Life and Liberty. I am no polotition yet 
I can see that we are in no posture for deffense, were 
we independent of England & laws military and civil, 



23 The news of the battle of Lexington and Concord reached 
Virginia the last of April, and was published in the Virginia 
Gazette of the twenty-ninth of that month. It is interesting 
to note that in less than six days it had crossed the Blue 
Ridge and was known to the dwellers in the Shenandoah Val- 
ley, and that it was thought to have spread as far as Preston's 
home at Draper's Meadows, near Blacksburg, in present Mont- 
gomery County, on waters draining into the Ohio. — Ed. 

24 April 20, Governor Dunmore ordered the captain of the 
"Magdalen," lying at anchor in the James, to carry off twenty 
kegs of powder from the public magazine in Williamsburgh, 
and place it on board the vessel. This alarmed the Virginia 
patriots, and at the time Brown was writing this letter, Pat- 
rick Henr}'- at the head of the Hanover County militia was ad- 
vancing upon the capital. An armed collision at this time was 
prevented, and the king's officers prevailed upon to pay the 
value of the powder to the patriot leaders. During his alarm 
over this affair, Dunmore armed the Indian hostages who had 
the previous autumn been brought in from the Shawnee 
town. — Ed. 



12 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

money struck to support an army, it wou'd not (I am 
apprehensive, be easy to subdue us or Make us Slaves 
as is intended. As far as I am acquainted I find the 
spirit of resentment increased among the people, but 
what can they do? They are like sheep in the Wild- 
erness without a head. May the Good Lord who can 
bring order out of confusion order all things for his 
own Glory & protect his Church & people in america 
from all ill designing men is the earnest Prayer of 
D^. Brother your's 

John Brown 

May 5tli 1775 

P. S. Wou'd not £50 p'' 100 [acres] be sufficient 
price for Spring Hill Plantation which I am apprehen^ 
sive M''. WaddelP^ woud be willing to give. 

Colo. William Preston in Smithfield, Fincastle County. 



GAimiSON" AT POINT PLEASANT 

[Capt. William Russell to Col. William Fleming.26 4QQ19 

A. L.] 

Fort Elair June 12*11 1775 
Dear Maj^. — I Rec*. your welcome Letter by 
Thomas Tays ; which, be assure'd, in this 'remote De- 

25 Rev. James Waddell, afterwards famous as the "blind 
preacher," and described by William Wirt, in Letters of the 
British Spy (N. Y., 1832), pp. 195-205, was born in 1739 either 
in Ireland or on the sea. Educated under Dr. Samuel Finley, 
he was licensed to preach in 1761.^ First residing in Lancaster 
County, Virginia, he removed to the upper country about the 
date of this letter. He served the Tinkling Spring congrega- 
tion until 1783, when he removed to Louisa County, where he 
died in 1805. The estate of Springhill, of which he purchased 
1300 acres for ;£i,ooo, was part of the original estate of Col. 
James Patton, for whom Preston was executor. — Ed. 

26 For Fleming, see Dunmore's War, pp. 428, 429. — Ed. 



AT POINT PLEASANT 13 

pairtment, contributed more than a little to my Satis- 
faction. 

I had some Days before the Receipt of yours, been 
favour'd with the shocking Ace*, of three Battles be- 
ing fought near the City of Boston, between the Brit- 
tish Troops, and Americans ; tho', must acknowledge 
my great joy, in our victories obtained over the Ene- 
mies Tyranic Pride. 

The unheard of Acts of Barbarity, committed by 
the Brittish Troops, will doubtless stir up every lover 
of his Country, to be Zealous, and forward in it's de- 
fence, to support our Liberty; tho', I doubt not, but 
many sychophants to Brittains Interest, will now ap- 
pear Patriots ; — as long as our Arms prove Victor- 
ious; but, should ever our present success change, 
and in ever so small a manner, be Sully'd, you'l find 
Traytors enough prick up their Ears, and in a Pro^ 
fetic language, display their presuggested knoledge of 
Events. I have, as long as in my power, procrastin- 
ated our departure from this Garison, expecting that 
eire now, we should Receive some Orders from the 
Convention, that might countermand the Governors 
Letter to me,^^ but as none such have yet come to hand, 
I am this Morning preparing to start off our Cattle 
up Sandy, and expect, that Comm^. will leave this 
Wensday, or thursday at farthest, and shall Decamp 



27 The Virginia convention which met at Richmond, March 
20-27, 1775, provided for embodying the militia of the state 
(see Preston's orders, ante, pp. 8, 9), but not the garrisons of 
the frontier forts. By one of his last executive acts, the gov- 
ernor ordered the garrisons at Fort Dunmore (Pitt), Fort 
Fincastle (Wheeling), and Fort Blair (Point Pleasant) dis- 
banded, and the stockades evacuated. See Amer. Archives, 
4th series, ii, p. 1189. — Ed. 



14 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

myself e with a Convoy to the other stores next Mon- 
day, and expect to overtake the Stock, at the big 
painted Lick^^ about sixty Miles up Sandy. 

I expect you have hear'd of Col^. Preston's Orders, 
to Maj"^. Engles^^ to take possession of the Cattle, 
and Horses in my care at this Garison ; but, as I found 
not a word, in his Lordship's Orders to me. Similar to 
the Colonels pretended authority, I took the oppinion 
of my officers, who judged it most to the Interest of 
the Country, that I should keep together the Stock 
and Stores, and Convoy them into the Settlement, and 
dispose of them myselfe, unless contra Orders come 
to me from the Convention. I am in a singular man- 
ner obliged to you, for your Advice in the disposal of 
the Beves, and horses, I have on hand of the Coun- 
try's ; and as your oppinion corroberates with our Reso- 
lutions, I trust all things will go right, and will I hope, 
at least open the Eyes of the designing Col^. to see 
his folly, in aiming to make use of me as a Tool, in 
any one [Ms torn] his unfair Intentions. The Gari- 
son we intend to let remain, as I think the distruc- 
tion of it at this time might prove Injurious to th€ 
Country. 

The Corn Stalk left me, last thursday; and in the 
space of four Days [conve] rsation, I discovered that it 
is the Intention of the Pick Tribe of Indians [to be 
trjoublesome to our new Settlements whenever they 



28 Probably where Paintsville, Johnson County, Ky., now 
stands, at the junction of Paint Creek with the Levisa fork of 
Sandy River. — Ed. 

29 For a brief sketch of Col. William Ingles, who acted in 
Dunmore's War as commissary, with the rank of major, see 
Vunmore's War, p. loi, note 46. — Ed. 



AT POINT PLEASANT 15 

can; and he further assured me, that the Mingoes^' 
behave in a very unbecoming manner Frequently up- 
braiding the Shawanees, in cowardly making the 
Peace; & call them big knife People; that the Corn 
Stalk can't well account for their Intentions, if this 
be true, and a rupture between England and America 
has really commenced, we shall certainly Receive 
Trouble at the hands of those People in a short Time, 
as they got the news of the Battles in the Shawanee 
Towns, eight, or ten days before the Corn Stalk 
came here; Tho-' I am confident, the Shawanees will 
always be our Friends. The Corn Stalk brought me 
two of the Horses taken by that party of Cherrokees ; 
who, murdered the People on Kentucke in March. 
The Shawanese took the Rascal, who had them; but, 
he made his escape from them, it is supposed he is re- 
turn'd to the Cherokee Nation. It appears to have 



30 The Pick tribe were a division of the Shawnee, who lived 
in the neighborhood of the modern Piqua, Ohio. The name 
is doubtless taken from Pickawillany, where a branch of the 
Miami, led by La Demoiselle (or Old Britain), settled in 1748 
in order to make a treaty with the English. Gist and Croghan 
visited this town in 1750, finding there a number of British 
Indian traders. Two years later a force of French and In- 
dians, under the command of Charles Langlade of Wisconsin, 
fell upon this village, destroyed it, and burned its chief. After 
the French and Indian War, the Miami withdrew to the 
Northwest, being succeeded by the Shawnee. Their chief 
town, known as Piqua, was two and a half miles north of the 
present Piqua, on the west bank of the Great Miami, south of 
the entrance of Loramie's Creek. This and adjacent villages 
(collectively called Piqua) were especially hostile to the whites 
during the Revolution, being twice raided by George Rogers 
Clark, in 1780 and again in 1782. 

For the Mingo see Dunmore's War, p. 28, note 47. They 
were irreconcilables in the war of 1774, and refused to make 
peace with Dunmore until he sent a force to raid their town. 
See Ibid., p. 303, note 17. — Ed, 



i6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

been the Pics, that fired on Boones Camp when the 
two Men were kill'd, out of his Party.^^ I had re- 
solved when I left home to go from this Place to Ken- 
tucke ; and especially since I Rec**. my other Warrant ; 
but hearing of the troublesome Times, in the Country, 
I am greatly purplex'd in mind, to hear more cer- 
tain ace*, how affairs are likely to go in Virginia ; nor 
can I fall upon any method, to save the Stores so ef- 
fectual, from the danger of the Indians, as to bring 
them into the Settlements ; and after seeing CoR 
Christian and your selfe, I hope to be satisfy'd in the 
present Times. 

I have wrote several Letters to Col^. Henderson, 
since I returnd to this Post, and have had it in my 
power, to calm the Minds of several Comp^^. who, 
have gone down this River, so that I hope, the new 
Country about Kentucke will Settle quickly: I have 
also Wrote Maj'*. Connelly,^^ so that I wood fain 
hope, our wishes, and endeavours may prove effectual, 
to the speedy Settling that Country. 

I have heard the Convention is to meet some Time 
this Month; and have wrote to Inform Col^. Chris- 
tian,^^ respecting the present Temper, of the neigh- 
boring Tribes of Indians, to the Shawanees ; which, I 
think is really necessary, the Convention should be 
made acquainted with, that they may judge accord- 



31 See ante, p. g, note i8. — Ed. 

^2 For Dr. John Connolly see Dunmore's War, p. 42, note 
77. Evidently Russell was not yet informed of Connolly's 
plans to side with the English and attack the American fron- 
tier — see post. — Ed. 

33 The convention met again July 17, Col. William Christian 
representing Fincastle County. — Ed. 



AT FORT PITT ly^ 

ingly; and as your Letter to me got brook open on 
new River, his may also, and probably miscarry ; there- 
fore, I think it best to send off Henry Boyer,^* and 
Geo. Oxen as an express, one with this Letter to you, 
and the other is to let my Family know of my coming, 
and withall to have some Horses taken out to Sandy, 
to carry in the Stores upon. If Col^. Christian should 
be down the Country, and any opportunity offers, pre 
[MS torn] to dispatch my Letter, sent to him, by M^. 
Engles last Week [MS. torn] this may find you, and 
Lady, and little Son in Health ;3^ and that the Al- 
mighty may comfort, and protect you in the present 
troubles, is the harty wish of yours most Affection- 
ately. 

[William Russell] 
[To Col. William Fleming] 



AFFAIRS AT FORT PITT 

[Summary of printed documents concerning movements at 
Fort Pitt and vicinity, during the spring and summer of 
1775.] 

Upon the retirement of Lord Dunmore (November, 
1774), from his military expedition into the Indian 
country, he left a garrison of seventy-five men in Fort 



8* Although then but a youth, Henry Bowyer took part in 
Dunmore's War, and was wounded at the Battle of Point 
Pleasant. He afterwards enlisted in the Revolutionary cav- 
alry under Col. William Washington. Becoming a prominent 
citizen of Botetourt County, he was clerk of its courts, 1791- 
183 1, and died in 1833. — Ed. 

35 Mrs. Fleming was a sister of Col. William Christian; for 
their son see Dunmore's War, p. 182, note 27. — Ed. 



l8 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Dunmore, under the command of Maj. John Connolly, 
promising to return in the spring and complete the 
treaty with the Indians, that had been begun at Camp 
Charlotte.^^ Twelve Mingo prisoners were left in 
confinement in the fort, while the Shawnee hostages 
accompanied the governor to Williamsburgh. But 
by the spring of 1775 the American Revolutionary 
movement had gained such force in Virginia that the 
governor was unable to revisit the frontiers, or treat 
further with the Indian tribes. 

Meanwhile the boundary difficulty between Virginia 
and Pennsylvania reached an acute stage, each colony 
claimed jurisdiction of the forks of the Ohio, and re- 
prisals were alternately made upon the magistrates of 
each colony. Affairs reached such a state of confu- 
sion that in July the delegates of both colonies, assem- 
bled in Continental Congress at Philadelphia, ad- 
dressed a friendly letter to the inhabitants west of 
Laurel Hill, advising them to lay aside their unhappy 
differences and co-operate for the defense of Ameri- 
can liberties.^^ 

West Augusta, Virginia, organized at Pittsburgh, 
May 16, a committee of correspondence to keep in 
touch with a standing committee of seven members to 
care for American interests in that part of the country, 
and sent delegates to the two Virginia conventions in 
March and July. The same day Westmoreland 
County, Pennsylvania, organized at Hannastown, and 



36 Ibid., pp. 301-306, 386.— Ed. 

^■^ This letter is found in Amer. Archives, 4th series, ii, 
p. 1723.— Ed. 



AT FORT PITT 19 

subscribed to the Association.^^ Although the bound- 
ary difference was not settled until 1780, the patriots 
of both colonies seem to have suspended their animosi- 
ties in the common struggle for liberty. 

Although American born, Major Connolly adhered 
to the Royalist side. In February he visited Will- 
iamsburgh^^ and had a conference with Dunmore, who 
instructed him to secure the Indians for the king, and 
induce them to espouse His Majesty's cause. On his 
return to Fort Pitt, Connolly sent .runners to the Dela- 
ware towns, inviting the chiefs to come in and 
receive the prisoners and such messages as might be 
sent them by the royal governor. Sometime in June 
the Delaware chiefs and a few of the Mingo visited 
Pittsburgh. According to Connolly's own report they 
gave assurances that they would support the king, 
and in comfirmation thereof received presents and 
a belt of wampum. Connolly intimates that he 
outwitted the patriot faction, who were led to approve 
his negotiations with the Indians without understand- 
ing their puirport.*^ To' a neighboring magistrate he 
admitted that, to secure a confirmation of his lands,** 
he was planning to take White Eyes, the Delaware 
chief, to England. 



8* Ibid., pp. 613-615. — Ed. 

39 See his letter to Washington, dated "Winchester, Febr. 
9*^> 1775," in S. M. Hamilton, Letters to Washington (Boston, 
1902), V, p. loi. — Ed. 

40 "A Narrative of the Transactions, Imprisonment and Suf- 
ferings of John Connolly, an American Loyalist and Lieuten- 
ant Colonel in His Majesty's Service," in Pennsylvania Maga- 
zine of History and Biography, xii, pp. 315, 316. See the re- 
port at the Treaty of Pittsburgh, post.—Eo. 

*i Letter of Arthur St. Clair, July 12, 1775, in Pennsylvania 
Archives, iv, p. 637. — Ed. 



20 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

In July Connolly, still acting on the governor's or- 
ders, disbanded the garrison at Pittsburgh, and ac- 
companied by three Indian chiefs made his way to- 
ward Williamsburgh, and joined Dunmore, then on 
board of a British man-of-war off York. 

The final session of the Virginia House of Bur- 
gesses took into consideration the necessity of quiet- 
ing the Indians on the frontier,*^ and appointed 
Thomas Walker, James Wood, Andrew Lewis, John 
Walker, and Adam Stephen ^^ commissioners to ratify 
a peace with the tribesmen. James Wood was chosen 
to visit the Indian towns and give notice of a confer- 
ence to be held at Pittsburgh in September.*^ 



^^ Amer. Archives, 4th series, ii, p. 1209. — Ed. 

*3 For sketches of these Virginians see Dunmore's War, pp. 
191, 242, 426-428. Col. John Walker was a son of Dr. Thomas 
Walker. Born in Albemarle in 1744, he served in the Revolu- 
tion, was captured by the British, and later served as United 
States senator from Virginia by appointment (May-December, 
1790). He died in 1809. — Ed. 

44 James Wood was the son of a colonel of the same name, 
who served with Washington in the French and Indian War, 
and founded the Virginia town of Winchester. Born in 1750, 
James the younger served as captain in Dunmore's division in 
1774; the following year, after the suspension of the House 
of Burgesses, of which he was a member from Frederick 
County, he made a hazardous journey to the Indian towns. 
See his journal, post. In 1776 he became colonel of the 8th 
Virginia regiment, and serving through the war, retired with 
the rank of brigadier-general. In 1789, he was one of the 
presidential electors, and from 1796-99 was governor of his 
state. Noted for his philanthropy and anti-slavery principles, 
he died at his home in Winchester in 1813. — Ed. 



VIRGINIA'S PREPARATIONS 21 S^ 

VIRGINIA ARMS 

[Thomas Lewis to Col. William Preston. 4QQ29 — A. L. S.] 

Richd. Augt. 19th 1775. 

Dear Si^' — Tho I wrote to you two Days Since 
least miscarriage should Happen I have now Set 
Down to write you or rather to repeat the Same thing 

to you that I mentioned before yours of the 

8th & thirteen July Came to hand, but the last too 
late to be before hand with the Fincastle Petition 
however they were both presented on the Same Day.'^^ 
A Committee was appointed to Consider the matter, 
their report was not made till y^ 15th of the present 

month & is as Followeth "The Committee to 

whom the Petitions of the Committee & Surveyor, of 
Fincastle, & a proclamation of L^l Dunmore Dated 
the 8th May 1775, were refered have had the Same 
under their Consideration & Came to y® Following 
Resolutions 

Resolved that untill the Committee appointed by 
the Convention in March last, to Enquire whether the 
King may of Right advance the terms of Granting 
Lands in this Colony, Shall have made their report, 
the recommendation then made, that all persons 
should forbear to purchase or Accept Grants of Land 
under the late Instructions from the Gov^. be observed 
& that in the mean time, all Surveyors be & they are 
hereby Directed to make no Surveys under the Said 
Instructions, nor pay any regard to the Said procla- 
mation." 



*5 For these petitions see Amer. Archives, 4th series, iii, 

p. 367.— Ed. : * \ \ : { 



22 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

I Showed your Exculpatory Letter to y® Leading 
members, no blame was laid or attempted to be 
Charged on you. The Committee of last march being 
otherwise Engaged, had not reported, & could not 
do it now for want of Some Original papers & Char- 
ters that Could not be obtained at present, but it is to 
be hoped they will attend to this matter Soon as to 
what passes here it is difficult to Say with Certainty 
not an Ordinance is yet Compleated. a variety \pi 
opinions retards this Buissiness. 1000 regulars are 
voted to be. Divided into two Regiments, the Com- 
mander Col°. Henry of the first W°^ Woodford of the 
other, W^. Christian (of whose military powers much 
have been Said here) is first L. Col*^. & one Scott y® 

Second, one Eps & Spotswood majors 8000 

minuit men In 16 Batalions are to trained & paid 
for the time of training 425 for posts on the Fron- 
tiers viz 200 at Pitsburg*« 25 at Wheeling, 100 at y® 



*6 August 7, the convention resolved that "John Neavill be 
directed to march with his Company of one hundred men, and 
take possession of Fort Pitt, and that the said Company be in 
the pay of this Colony from the time of their marching." 

Capt. John Neville was born in Virginia in 1731. He served 
with Washington on Braddock's expedition, and afterwards 
settled in Winchester, where he acted as sheriff. Having large 
landed interests in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, he made 
his home on Chartier's Creek, and was a delegate chosen by 
the West Augusta people to represent them in the Virginia 
Convention (1774) ; through illness, however, he was unable 
to attend. The company that he marched to Pittsburgh were 
largely Frederick County militia, Neville remained in com- 
mand until June, 1777. Being then made colonel of the 4th 
Virginia continental regiment, he served throughout the Revo- 
lution in the Eastern department. After the war he returned 
to his Western home, being chosen jnember of the supreme ex- 
ecutive council of Pennsylvania. He was inspector of revenue 
at the time of the Whiskey Rebellion (i794)> during which dis- 



VIRGINIA'S PREPARATIONS 23 

point 100 for Fincastele, these last & very Deservedly 
have met with oposition, many Schemes of Jobing 
may be Discovered here but this is no new thing — 
resolves are entred into for y® Encouragement of 
making Saltpeter, Sulphur [and] Gunpowder 
The Delegates to y® Gen^ Congress that meet next 
m.onth are Pay [ton]. Randolph, B. Harrison, R. H. 
Lee, T. Jefferson, T. Nelson, F L Lee, G« Wythe. A 
Committee of Safety who are to answer to the Execu- 
tive part of Govm^ Consisting of 11 persons are ap- 
pointed visz. E^ Pendelton, G^ Mason, Jn<^ Page, 
Richd Bland, F. L. Lee, Paul Canrinton, Dudley 
Diggs, W^ Cable [Cabell], Carter Braxton, James 
Mercer, Jn^ Tabb. An Ordinance is in great for- 
wardness for paying off last years Expenses, our 
proportion of the Continental army to y^ 1th [first] 
Jan^. 150 000, y^ Regulars minute men militia &c &c 
&c will leave us at y® End of the year in a Debt not 
easily Discharged, I perhaps put it too much in my 
former Letter, it however will be very Great, The 
Colony [ies] are by Congress Divided into three Dis- 
tricts for y® Conveniency of treating with the Indians 
& Gentlemen appointed for that purpose.*^ Carlton 



turbance his house was sacked and he subjected to much vio- 
lence. He died on Montour's Island in 1803. — Ed. 

^■'^July 1 2th, 1775, the Continental Congress determined to 
organize three departments for Indian affairs, of which the 
Pittsburgh and Western Virginia region constituted the cen- 
tral. The next day commissioners were chosen for that de- 
partment in the persons of Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, 
and James Wilson. In September following, Lewis Morris 
was appointed in the place of Franklin, who was unable to 
attend, to conduct the treaty at Pittsburgh; and Dr. Thomas 
Walker was chosen in the place of Patrick Henry, who de- 
clined the commissionership. These three congressional com- 



24 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

has been Labouring with the Canadians to assist him 
in Disstressing the Coloneys but has not been very 
Success full, there is great reason to believe the New 
Englanders under Gen^ Schuyler is in possession of 
Montreal, & Niagra by this time, the Canadians are 
Said to wish this, if so it will be an Easy Acquisition 
as Carlton has not above 600 troops to opose to our 
army, however this may be, you may depend an Army 
attempts it. 

as to other news y® paper will Inform you all I can 
say, I wis[h] you all Hapiness & am D^ Si^ 

Your most Humble Ser* 

Thos Lewis*® 

monday 21th The Ordinance for the regular 
troops the minit men & militia passed as well 
as that for Seteling the Articles of War passed 
this day & was Despatched to y^ press An 
Ordinance for a Committee of Safety, And one for 
regulating various Elections will be Completed this 
Day & to morrow One for paying of Last years 
Excise & raising or striking money & the means of 
Sinking the Same is in Some forwardness, it is to 
be hoped this week will put an End to this Session 
of which (between [us] ) I am heartily Sick 

To Col. William Preston 



missioners (Wilson, Morris, and Walker) proceeded to Pitts- 
burgh, where, in connection with the delegates chosen by Vir- 
ginia for the same purpose they conducted the required nego- 
tiations. — Ed. 

*® For a brief biographical sketch of Thomas Lewis see 
Dunmore's War, p. 312, note 30. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 25 



TREATY AT PITTSBURGH, 1775 

[Original Ms. in possession of Dr. William C, Rives, Wash- 
ington, D. C, a descendant of Dr. Thomas Walker. J"*^ 

At a meeting of the Commissioners Appointed by 
the Honorable the Convention of the Colony of Vir- 
ginia for holding a Treaty with the Western Indians 



*^ The following complete text of the treaty negotiations at 
Pittsburgh in the autumn of 1775, is furnished us by the cour- 
tesy of Dr. William Cabell Rives, of Washington, D. C, into 
whose possession the manuscript came with others belonging 
to Dr. Thomas Walker, from whom he is directly descended. 
Dr. Walker was the chairman of the Virginia treaty commis- 
sion, and one of the three congressional commissioners. He 
appears to have been entrusted with the full minutes of the 
treaty, also with James Wood's diary of his journey to sum- 
mon the tribesmen thither. The report of the treaty does not 
appear to have before been printed in its entirety. In 1847 
Lyman C. Draper visited Castle Hill, the ancestral home of 
the Walker-Rives family in Albemarle County, and was per- 
mitted by the then owner to inspect this manuscript, which he 
found "very neatly written and having the autograph signatures 
of the Virginia commissioners." — Draper MSS., 5C28. Draper 
made copious extracts. 

John J. Jacobs, author of Biographical Sketch of Captain 
Michael Cresap (Cumberland, 1826), was in possession of a 
copy of the manuscript minutes of this treaty, furnished him 
by John Madison, secretary of the Virginia commissioners. 
The excerpts which Jacobs made for his work (pp. 69-71) are 
all that have been published therefrom. The present editors, 
noting Draper's citation from the original document, entered 
into correspondence with the Rives family, and found that they 
had preserved this important manuscript entire, and in the 
condition that Draper found it in 1847. Dr. Rives exercised 
the greatest care that the transcript should be exact in every 
particular, and has shown much interest in its present publi- 
cation. He also informs us that Mrs. William C. Rives, in "A 
Tale of our Ancestors," published in her book. Tales and Sou- 
venirs of a Residence in Europe (1842), uses the names of 
several Indian chiefs, which she doubtless obtained from the 
original of this manuscript. The editors consider themselves 
fortunate in being able to place before their readers the full 
text of a negotiation fraught with such consequences to the 
Revolution in the West. — Ed. 



26 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

September the Twelfth One Thousand Seven Hun- 
dred and Seventy five. 

The Indians not being Arrived and the Commis- 
sioners being Informed they were [on] their Road 
thought proper to dispatch Mir John Gibson ^^ with 
the Indian AUaniwisica with the following talk to 
meet and hasten them 

Young Brothers Cheifs and Wariors of the diffen- 
ent Tribes of Indians on your Way to the Treaty at 
Fort Pitt We the Commissioners of the Long KnFfe 
sent to treat with you our Brothers to the Westward 
have been Waiting at Pittsburgh the place we Ap- 
pointed several days and are very impatient to see 
you we have sent John Gibson and our Young 
Brother AUaniwisica^^ to meet you on your Road to 
desire you will come up as soon as you can that we 
may see you and brighten the Chain of Freindship 
which we both now have hold of we have many 
good things to say to you when we meet and shall 
send Provisions to meet you at Logs Town^^ Should 



^0 For a brief sketch of Gibson, see Dunmore's War, p. ii, 
note 19. — Ed. 

^1 Probably the same Indian as the one more frequently- 
called Elinipisco, a son of Cornstalk, who participated in Dun- 
more's War. In November, 1777, he visited Fort Randolph, 
where his father was already in custody, and was killed by a 
mob of vengeful frontiersmen. — Ed. 

52 Logstown was an important Indian site, about eighteen 
miles below Pittsburgh, on the right bank of the river. Its 
French name was Chiningue, Anglicized as Shenango. This 
was originally a Shawnee village, but gradually became a 
large mixed town — an important trading site. Conrad Weiser 
made a treaty here in 1748; in consequence whereof the French 
expedition under Celoron, the following year, found the vil- 
lage chiefly in the English interest. Croghan also, in 175 1, 
traded and treated here. Washington stopped at Logstown 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 2^ 

you have heaird E[vil] Reports from any person we 
desire you will not beleive them but be Assured our 
hearts are good towards you A String of White 
Wampum 



September 15*^, At a Meeting of the Commissioners 
as well those Appointed by the Honorable the Con- 
tinential Congress as those Appointed by the Colony 
of Virginia Thomas Walker Esq^ in the Chair 

A string of Wampum and Talk was delivered from 
the White Mingo ^^ to the Commissioners by Cap° 
James Wood one of the Virginia Commissioners who 
received it from Mr. Dorsey Penticost^* by whom it 
was sent importing that he had been shot at by two 
Men in long white hunting Shirts near the Mouth of 
Pine Cireek^^ with an Intention as he Imagined to 
kill him that being greatly alarmed and Supposing 
all the Indians near this place were Murdered he 
kept himself hid that day and Night in the Woods 



on his embassy of 1753 ; but by the following year the French 
had gained complete ascendency. They built for the In- 
dians a village of log huts, where, in 1758, Post succeeded in 
gaining a hearing for the English cause. After the fall of 
Fort Duquesne (1758) this village was abandoned, but Pon- 
tiac's conspiracy being ended, its former possessors gradually 
came back for trade. John Gibson had his chief trading 
house at this site, and Washington mentions it in the diary of 
his journey in 1770. By 1784 the site was abandoned. It is 
now part of Economy township. — Ed. 

53 White Mingo was a Seneca chief, who lived not far above 
Pittsburgh on the Allegheny. His signature appeared on 
Bouquet's treaty (1764), and he died before 1777. — Ed. 

54 For a brief biographical sketch of Dorsey Pentecost see 
Dunmore's War, p. loi, note 47. 

^5 Pine Creek flows into the Allegheny from the northwest, 
where the town of Sharpsburg now stands. — Ed. 



28 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

where finding all things Quiet he Ventured to his 
Camp and finding his family safe went to Col^ Crog- 
hans^^ from where he sent the String and talk 

Resolved that Cap^ James Wood Mir. John Walker 
Mr. George Morgan and Mr. Lewis Morris take with 
them Simon Girty and John Montour for Interpre- 
ters^^ and visit the White Mingo that they go with 
him to the Place where he says he was shot at and 
ireport to this Meeting whatever they can discover 
concerning this Afifair Resolved that a String of 
White Wampum and the following talk be delivered 
the White Mingo by the above Mentioned Gentlemen 

Brother the White Mingo We have heard with 
very great Greif and concern your Message informing 
us that the day before Yesterday you were shot at 
by two Men in long White hunting Shirts they must 
have been very bad People indeed you know there 
are some such in all Nations but you ought not to 



^^ For a brief sketch of Col. George Croghan see Dunmore's 
War, p. 7, note 12. — Ed. 

^"^ For a brief sketch of Simon Girty see Ihid., p. 152, 
note, 4. 

John Montour was the son of Andrew, the famous half- 
breed interpreter who accompanied Weiser and Washington 
on their Western journeys and who was captain in the French 
and Indian War. John's mother was the granddaughter of 
the Delaware chief Olumpias, and in her right he was con- 
sidered a Delaware chief. He was born in 1744, probably near 
Pittsburgh. When twelve years of age his father took him to 
Philadelphia, where he was educated at the expense of the 
state. He was with Dunmore in 1774, and adhered to the 
colonists' cause during the Revolution, although his fidelity 
was more than once doubted. In 1782 Montour received a 
captain's commission, and as late as 1789 was living on 
Montour's island. This island, now known as Neville, is five 
miles below Pittsburgh; it is five miles in length, the largest 
of the islands in the upper river. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 29 

judge of the Sentiments and Conduct of your Brothers 
the White People from those of a few Wretches 
among them we will do every thing in our Power 
to discover who have done this veiry Wicked Act We 
will offer a very large Reward for finding them out 
and bringing them tO' us and so soon as they shall be 
found we will take Care that they be imprisoned and 
Otherwise Punished as they Ought to be They must 
have been Enemies to us as well as to you Otherwise 
they would not have done any thing to create Jeal- 
ousy between us but we hope this Message and the 
String will Effectually remove it you may return to 
us with Safety and we Shall be glad to take you by 
the hand. 

Molly Hickman a Delaware Woman ^^ Appearing 
before the Commissioners informs that last Night 
about Midnight as a Mingo Man and a Shawanese 
Man was Walking near the Orchard there were four 
or five White Men following them in close Conversa- 
tion that the Mingo Man Understanding what they 
said Acquainted the other they were threatning them 
& they had best make thier Escape upon which they 
Separated and run off and the White Men pursued 
them but they got over the River one Some distance 
above and the other at the Lower end of the Orchard 
that the Mingo Man went off Early this Morning 
that the Shawanese were still there but Apprehend- 
ing they would share the same fate with some of the 
Delawares last Year 



58 For other Delaware Indians of this name, one of whom 
acted as escort and interpreter for Frederick Post in 1758, see 
Thwaites, Early Western Travels, i, pp. 220, 227, 235. — Ed. 



30 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Doctor Walker Col® Morris Col** Lewis CoP Steph- 
en and CoP Wilson went over to the Indian Camp 
to enquire into the truth of the above report and 
found that the Indians had Misapprehended the White 
People from their small Acquaintance with the Lan- 
guage 



September 16th The Gentlemen Appointed to 
Visit the White Mingo made the following Report In 
Obedience to the Order of Yesterday the persons Ap- 
pointed to visit the White Mingo immediately pro- 
ceeded to discharge their trust they were met by 
the White Mingo at the Waterside where he Ac- 
costed them thus "When I first saw you coming I 
was Affraid and had thoughts of running away" he 
Appeared to be Quite Calm and Shewed no Symp- 
toms of fear from thence they went to his House 
and after resting awhile delivered the Message and 
string to which he gave the following Answer "I 
thank my old Brother of Virginia Pennsylvania &^ 
for their enquiry into this Matter when I was first 
fired on I thought it was the Act of some inconsid- 
erate foolish People and did not imagine the Great 
People knew any thing of it I thank God that he 
has been pleased to frustrate their designs and has 
permitted me to live a little longer I am perfectly 
satisfied and not the least uneasy" they went to the 
place where he said he was fired at after some 
seairch found his Blanket and hat about One hundred 
and twenty Yards from the Spot they could not see 
where the Ball struck and he said he never heard 




Col. George Morgan 



From a silhouette in the possession of his great-gi-and- 
daiighter, Mrs. Helena C. Beatty of Washington, Pa. 
Reproduced by permission, from Bausman's History 
of Beaver County, Pa (New York, 1904) 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 31 

it they then invited him to come to Town with them 
if he was uneasy in his mind he said he was not un- 
easy and would come to Town to morrow when they 
came to his House his wife was Just returned from 
Horse Hunting in the same Woods as they went they 
met with Coyashotas two Wives and another Squa 
coming from the same place who showed no sign of 
fear (Signed) 

James Wood 
John Walker 

The White Mingo in Answer to the Message from 
the Commissioners desired to return his thanks to 
them for sending it and to us as the Bearers he re- 
peated nearly what he had heard and said it should 
not make him Angry or Uneasy that he Attributed 
it to some bad people only and that he would come 
to the fort tomorrow he shewed us the Ground where 
he said he was shot at and the Place where he threw 
away his hat and Blanket both of which we found but 
no mark of a ball tho the tracts of a Man in Mocasins 
were to be seen where he said the Man shot from 
(Signed) George Morgan" 



69 George Morgan, son of Evan, was born in Philadelphia 
in 1742, and while a young man joined the firm of Baynton, 
Wharton & Co., well-known Indian traders, and in 1764 
married a daughter of Baynton. The firm lost heavily by 
Pontiac's conspiracy, for which they were recompensed at the 
treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768). This grant laid the founda- 
tion of the Indiana Company, for which Morgan was secre- 
tary and agent many years. Morgan early visited the Indian 
country, and made himself popular with the tribesmen — a 
voyage to the Illinois and down the Mississippi as early as 1766 
being recorded. In 1768 he was living in the Illinois, but left 
there some time before the outbreak of the Revolution. His 



32 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

The White Mingo upon the Speeches being inter- 
preted to him returned thanks to his Brother of the 
Big knife and his Brothers of New York and Penn- 
sylvania for their kind speech he said he was [now] 
Easy in his own Mind as to their being Unfreindly 
to him or having any design to injure him that he sup- 
posed they weire some evil minded persons who wanted 
to make a breach between the People of his Colour and 
his White Brothers but he thanked God that he had 
rescued him from the hands of such Villians and per- 
mitted him to live a little longer with regard to his 
being fired upon he says that on Wednesday as he 
was paddling down the River a bullet struck just by 
him which he did not conceive to be fired at him at 
that time but thought it was some person a hunting 
had carelessly fired that way that he landed and met 
with two Men Cloathed in White hunting Shirts with 
Guns upon their Shoulders that he went up to them 
in a freindly Manner and offered to shake hands with 



appointment by Congress in April, 1776, as Indian agent for 
the Middle Department brought him again to Pittsburgh, 
where he remained in this capacity until his resignation in 
the spring of 1779. He then rejoined the Eastern army, 
wherein he attained the rank of colonel. At the close of the 
war he settled in Princeton, N. J., there becoming a leading 
citizen and a trustee of the college. In 1788-89, Morgan was 
occupied with a plan for settling a colony on the Spanish side 
of the Mississippi, and founded there the settlement of New 
Madrid. Having failed to secure proper authorization from 
the Spanish authorities, the proposed colony was abandoned. 
In 1796 Morgan removed to Washington County, Pa., 
where he built an estate called "Morganza." There the Aaron 
Burr plot was first detected and reported. Morgan died at his 
Western home in 1810. His Indian name was "Taimenend." 
Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth of Marietta, Ohio, once possessed 
Morgan's journals, and published extracts therefrom in his 
Pioneer History (Cincinnati, 1848). — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 33 

them and that they passed on without taking any No- 
tice of him that he then began to suspect that the 
Bullet was Aimed at him and that something had hap- 
pened to his freinds below that he walked along the 
Bank and discovered a great Many White People and 
that he was then sure that something had happened 
and turned back to his Cabin that as he was descend- 
ing a hill in the Wood he saw two Men dressed in 
the same Manner as those he had seen before and that 
he Observed one of them presented at him that he 
immediately turned about and run upon which the 
Man fired and that he did not return to his Cabin un- 
til some time on Thursday that the White Mingo 
went with us to the Place where he said he was fiired 
at and Shewed us the Place where he stood and the 
Man who fi(red at him that I saw the steps of the 
White Mingo and that Cap^ Wood as I Understand 
saw the Prints of the two Men that we found the 
Matchcoat and hat which he dropped and returned 
them to him 

(Signed) Lewis Morris Jun^° 

Pittsburgh Septr. i6th 1775 

Resolved that it be recommended to the Indians to 
encamp near to each other and that each Incampment 



«® Lewis Morris, of the famous New York family of that 
name, was born in 1726 and graduated at Yale College twenty- 
years later. On the outbreak of the Revolution he joined the 
patriot cause, was elected to Congress in 1775, and made a 
commissioner of Indian affairs. In that capacity he visited 
Pittsburgh, and held the treaty of 1775. In 1776 he was one 
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and retir- 
ing from Congress served in the New York legislature 
(^777~7^)^ and in the state mihtia, where he attained the rank 
of major-general. He died at Morrisania in 1798. — Ed. 
3 



34 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

with the Approbation of the Commissioners make 
Choice of an Interpreter to stay O'Nights to inform 
the Commissioners the names of such White Persons 
who shall go among them to disturb them 

Resolved that Advertisements be set up in the Most 
Public Places ofering a reward of Two Hundred Dol- 
lars to any person or persons who shall discover the 
two Men or either of them that Shot at the White 
Mingo on Wednesday last 

Captain James Wood reported his Journal in his 
late Expedition to invite the Indians to this Treaty 
Ordered that the said Journal be Copied in these Pro- 
ceedings which is as follows 

Diary lyy^ 
24th June the Honorable the Council and House of 
Burgesses Appointed George Washington Thomas 
Walker James Wood Andrew Lewis John Walker 
and Adam Stephen Esquires Commissioners for hold- 
ing a Treaty with the Ohio Indians impowering the 
Treasurer to pay the Expence Accruing provided the 
same did not Exceed the sum of i2,000 the Evening 
of the same day the Commissioners were Informed 
that the House directed them not to Apply more than 
One Thousand Pounds towards the Negotiation at 
the same time they directed me to proceed immedi- 
ately to the different Tribes of Indians as well to give 
them an Invitation to a Treaty as to (remove any bad 
impressions which might be made by Chenusaw®^ one 
of the Shawanese Indians who had Escaped from 



*^ Chenusaw was one of the hostages taken by Dtinmore, 
after the treaty of Camp Charlotte; see Dunmore's War, 
P- 305— Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 35 

Williamsburg Upon my Appointment to this Service 
I moved the house to know how far I was to go in an 
Explanation of the disputes with Great Britain in 
Case the Indians should make any Enquirey into that 
Matter which I was well assured they would CoP 
Bland then moved the House that I should be directed 
to Explain the whole dispute to the Indians to make 
them sensible of the Great Unanimity of the Colonies 
to Assure them of our Peaceable Intentions towards 
them and that we did not stand in need of or desire 
any Assistance from them or any other Nation which 
Motion was agreed to by the House Nemine Contra- 
dicente 

25^^ I left Williamsburg and proceeded on my 
Journey having stayed three days at home in prepare- 
ing for it 

gtii July I Arrived at Fort Pitt where I received 
Information that the Cheifs of the Delawares and a 
few of the Mingoes had lately been Treating with 
Major Connolly agreeable to Instructions from Lord 
Dunmore and that Shawanese had not come to the 
Treaty agreable to their Appointment upon Exam- 
ining the Proceedings with the Delawares and Min- 
goes I found that they had been given assurances that 
a General Treaty would be soon held with all the Ohio 
Indians upon which I thought it Adviseable to dis- 
patch an Express to the Convention with the follow- 
ing Letter directed to the Honorable Peyton Ran- 
dolph Esq^ 

Sir — On my Arrival at this Place I found that 
Maj^ Connolly had finished a Treaty with the Delaware 
and Mingo Cheifs who had assembled agreable to 



36 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Lord Dunmores Appointment and were returned well 
satisfied with Assurances that a General Treaty would 
be soon held with them and the Other Ohio Tribes It 
seems from the Governors Instructions to Maj^ Con- 
nolly that he only intended a few of the Cheifs should 
be called together in order to make them easy till a 
treaty could be properly negotiated with them I am 
now waiting to see the Cornstalk who is on his way 
and is Expected here tomorrow or the next day the 
Reason that the Shawanese did not Attend at the 
Treaty lately held is not known but generally be- 
leived to be owing to Two French Men who were at 
their Towns and desired to speak to the Cheifs of that 
Nation in Council as soon as I see the Cornstalk 
I puirpose setting off for the Shawanese Towns in 
hopes of being able to Counteract any diabolical 
Schems formed by the Enemies of this Country to re- 
move any bad Impressions which may have been made 
on the Minds of these Savages and to Satisfy them 
concerning their Hostages from thence I shall pro- 
ceed to the Wyandots Towns ^^ where it is said the 



^2 The Wyandot were of Huron-Iroquois stock, being of 
the sub-tribe of Tobacco-Huron, or Petun. Nearly destroyed 
by the Iroquois in the early seventeenth century, they fled 
westward, and placing themselves under French protection, 
settled about Detroit early in the eighteenth century. Gradu- 
ally they straggled eastward along the southern shore of Lake 
Erie. In 1747 one band, under the leadership of chief Nicolas, 
built a town at Lower Sandusky, and the following year made 
an alliance with the English. During the French and Indian 
War, however, the Wyandot adhered to the French, took part 
in Braddock's defeat, and joined Pontiac's conspiracy. A few 
young warriors joined the Shawnee in Dunmore's War but 
the tribe as a whole held aloof. Their towns lay along the 
Sandusky River, and throughout the Revolution were under 
the influence of the British at Detroit. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 37 

same Frenchmen have lately been in Council with that 
Nation and to return by way of the Delaware and 
Mingo Towns 

I find that the Indians have been led to expect a 
General Treaty and that they would as Usual receive 
Presents upon a Compliance with the Terms imposed 
by Lord Dunmore so that I am realy Apprehensive 
we shall not be able from the Sum Allowed by the 
Assembly to make the different tribes a Present that 
will Answer their Expectations Considering the Ex- 
cessive dearness of Provisions in this part of the 
Country and the high Advance we must Necessarily 
pay for Goods from the Great Scarcity now in the 
Country from these Considerations I would beg the 
Gentlemen of the Convention to consider whether It 
would not be adviseable to direct the whole Sum of 
Two Thousand Pounds allowed by the Resolve of the 
House should not be laid Out to the best Advantage 
for this Necessary purpose I am well Assured it 
will have an Exceeding good Effect and that a last- 
ing peace may be Established with all the Ohio In- 
dians 

By the same Express that brings this the Commit- 
tee of West Augusta purpose sending to their Dele- 
gates the Proceedings of the late Treaty held with 
the Delawares and Mingoes together with a Copy of 
thir Resolves prior to the Treaty In Justice to the 
Committee (among whom are Many (respectable Char- 
acters) I must beg leave to Observe that they have 
been Attentive to the Interest of their Country on this 
important Occasion as no kind of provision was 
made by Government towards providing Necessaries 



38 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

for the Indians who were Called to a Council by the 
Governor the Committee at a Considerable Expence 
provided a Quantity of Provisions with a present 
in Goods which were distributed Among the Indians 
and which I beleive gave them General Satisfaction 
on the other hand if they had not thus taken up the 
Matter the Certain Consequence must have been that 
the Indians would have returned dissatisfied and a 
General discontent would have prevaled among the 
different Tribes 

The Committee as well as Major Connollys most in- 
veterate Enemies all agree that he Conducted this Af- 
fair in the Most Open and Candid Manner that it was 
transacted in the presence of the Committee and that 
he laid the Governors Instructions on this Occasion 
before them I shall be Extremely happy if my poor 
Endeavours on this or any future Occasion should in 
the smallest Degree Contribute to the Service of my 
Country I have the honor to be &c as soon as I dis- 
patched my Letter I sent for White Eyes^^ and Kill- 
buck ^^ Chiefs of the Delawares and Kyashota^^ and 



63 For a brief sketch of White Eyes see Dunmore's War, 
p. 29, note 48. — Ed. 

6* Killbuck was a grandson of King Newcomer, having 
been born at the Lehigh Water Gap in the decade between 
1730 and 1740. He removed West with his tribe, and was 
noted for his friendship with the whites and his respect for 
civilization. About 1788 he was baptized by the Moravians 
under the name of William Henry, and lived at their town 
of Goshen until his death in 181 1. A Hneal descendant by the 
name of Killbuck is today a missionary in Alaska. — Ed. 

65 Guyashusta (Kiasola, Kyashota) was the principal chief 
of the Six Nations on the Allegheny. During the French and 
Indian War he was hostile to the English, and the chief con- 
spirator on the Ohio during Pontiac's plot (1763). He signed 
with Bouquet the treaty of 1764, and kept it loyally, taking 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 39 

the White Mingo Cheifs of the Mingoes and delivered 
the following Speech sent by Thomas Walker and 
Andrew Lewis Esq^ two of the Commissioners to the 
Cheifs and Warriors of the Shawanese Wyandots 
Delaware and Mingo Nations. 

Brothers we are Appointed by your elder Broth- 
ers of Virginia to meet you in Council to finish the 
treaty began by Lord Dunmore last Year we hope 
to put an End to all differences between your People 
and ours so effectually that your Children and ours 
may live in the Strictest friendship till the Sun Shall 
shine no more or the Waters run in the Ohio 

Brothers your Freind Cap° James Wood who is Ap- 
pointed one of the Commissioners on this Important 
Occasion will deliver you this talk by whom you will 
be informed of the Imprudent Behaviour of your 
Brother Chenusaw who we hope has got safe to you 
before this the Manner in which he went from us 
gives us reason to fear he may give you some alarming 
Accounts but we hope Cap° Wood will satisfy you that 
we are your freinds and have been kind to your people 
the Wolf ^® and Newau will come with us to the Treaty 
at Fort Pitt where we hope to meet you on the tenth 
day of September to Compleat this great Work and 
must request you to give Notice to all your Neighbour- 
ing Nations that are Concerned we desire you will 
bring with you all the Prisoners and be fully prepared 



no part in Dunmore's War of 1774. During the Revolution he 
endeavored to maintain neutrality, dying at Cornplanter's vil- 
lage on the Allegheny about 1795. — Ed. 

66 The Indian name of the Wolf, another hostage, was Cut- 
tena (Cuttemwha). — Ed. 



40 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

in every respect to fulfil your agreement with Lord 
Dunmore to which White Eyes Answered 

Brother I return you as well as our two Brothers 
that sent it thanks for the good talk you have now de- 
livered us and you may depend I will make it my 
business to send the String now delivered to me to 
all my freinds and make no doubt but they will re- 
ceive it in the same freindly and thankful Manner I 
do The White Mingo then Spoke as follows 
Brother I am very thankful to you and your two 
Brothers in Virginia for your good talk and String 
now delivered I am certain It will give all my 
freinds the same Pleasure which it gives me to meet 
you at the time Appointed for holding the treaty at 
this place and you may be assured they shall be told 
of it 

10th July White Eyes came with an Interpreter to 
my Lodgings he informed me he was desirous of 
going to Williamsburg with IMajor Connolly to see 
Lord Dunmore who had promised him his Interest in 
procuring a Grant from the King for the Lands 
claimed by the Delawares that they were all desirous 
of living as the White People do and under their Laws 
and Protection that Lord Dunmore had engaged to 
make him some Satisfaction for his Trouble in going 
several times to the Shawanese Towns and serving 
with him on Campaign and likewise the damage he has 
sustained by some of our Men Plundering and de- 
stroying his Effects that he was a very poor Man 
and had Neglected to raise Corn by endeavouring to 
serve us and that his wife and Childerin were now al- 
most starving for Bread he told me he hoped I 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 41 

would advise him whether It was proper for him to 
go or not 

I was then Under the Necessity of Acquainting 
him with the disputes subsisting between Lord Dun- 
more and the People of Virginia and engaged when- 
ever the Assembly met that 1 would go with him to 
Williamsburg and represent his Case to the Assembly 
and made no doubt they would Amply reward him 
for his Services and damages sustained he was very 
thankful and Appeared perfectly satisfied with the 
promise I made him 

16^^ July the Cornstalk Nimwha^' Wryneck Blue 
Jacket Silver Heels ®^ and about fifteen other Shawan- 
ese arrived they immediately got drunk and Contin- 
ued in that situation for two days 

18^^ The Shawanese being assembled I made The 
following Speech to them Brothers the Shawanese 
I am now on my way to- your towns by directions of 
the great Council of Virginia my Business is to give 



®^ Nimwha (or Mimseeka) was a Shawnee chief, brother 
of Cornstalk, whom he succeeded as head of the tribe. He 
took part in Pontiac's Conspiracy, and was present at Bou- 
quet's treaty (1764) as well as those of Fort Pitt (1768 and 
1775). In 1778 he led the detachment that captured Daniel 
Boone, and the following year headed the besiegers of Fort 
Laurens. His death occurred early in 1780. — Ed. 

®* An early mention of these two noted chiefs, Blue Jacket 
and Silverheels. Blue Jacket was principal chief of the 
Shawnee during the Indian wars, defeated Harmar and St. 
Clair, and was defeated by Wayne in 1794. He took part in 
the treaty of Greenville, and soon after retired to the neigh- 
borhood of Sandwich, Ont., where he died about 1810. He 
was said to have been appointed a brigadier-general in the 
British service. Silverheels rescued several Pennsylvania 
traders on the outbreak of Dunmore's War, and at the risk 
of his own life escorted them to Pittsburgh. While in a fit of 
intoxication, he was killed by Indians. — Ed. 



42 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

the Cheifs of your Nation an Invitation to meet Com- 
missioners Appointed by them in a general Council at 
Fort Pitt in 53 days from this time in order fully to 
Confirm the peace agreed upon last year with Lord 
Dunmore your Brothers Cuttemwha and Newau are 
well and you may depend upon seeing them at the 
time Appointed for your Meeting about forty days 
ago Chenusaw left us without any provocation that 
we know of as soon as we found he was gone we 
dispatched many Men on horseback with Writen pap- 
ers directing all our People to treat him kindley and to 
let him Pass to you without receiveing any hurt 
your B'rother Cuttemwha desired me to tell you to be 
Strong and to come at the time which I Appoint 
A String of White Wampum 

I then delivered Messrs Walker and Lewis's speech 
with a String of Wampum soon after which Corn- 
stalk made the following Answer Brothers the Big\' 
knife I am greatly oblidged to you as well as to all 
my Elder Birothers of Virginia for their good talks 
and Intentions towards their Younger Brothers the 
Shawanese I look upon what you have said in the 
Manner as if delivered by your great Council and am 
as happy in seeing you as if they were all present I 
shall deliver your talks to the Cheifs on my return 
and make no doubt but they will meet you at the 
time Appointed 

The Cornstalk after delivering the speech told me 
he thought it would be best for me to go to the Shaw- 
anese Towns least Chenusaw should return and make 
any bad reports he then informed me that some of 
the Shawanese were desirous of going to Winchester 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 43 

in order to meet their freinds Cuttemwha and Nea- 
wau and to talk with our trading People and desired 
I would write to my freinds to treat them kindly I 
then wrote the following letter to the Committee of 
Frederick 

Gentlemen — You will receive this by Major Con- 
nolly with him three of the Shawanese Cheifs pur- 
pose going to Winchester in Order to see their freinds 
and to talk with some of our Tradeing people if the 
Hostages should not yet have Arrived I would beg 
leave to Recommend that an Express be immediately 
dispatched to Doctor Walkers to bring them up as 
the treatment these Indians receive will be taken par- 
ticular Notice of as well by them as the Whole Na- 
tion I beg the Attention of the Committee on this 
Occasion I am &c 

at 5 o'clock this afternoon I sett off from Foirt Pitt 
with Simon Girty an Interpreter encamped ten Miles 
below on the River Bank 

19*^ July sett off before Sunrise Crossed Big 
Beaver Creek near the Mouth travelled about 45 
Miles this day the Course nearly West 

20*^ Started very Early met Garret Pendergrass®^ 
about 9 o'clock who informed us that he left the Dela- 
ware Towns two days before that the Delawares were 



^9 See the affidavit of Pendergrass in Virginia Magazine of 
History and Biography, xiii, p. 423. Garret Pendergrass set- 
tled at Harrodsburgh in Kentucky, and in 1776 was commis- 
sioned to go with James Harrod on a mission to the Indian 
towns. In March 28, 1777, he was killed and scalped by prowl- 
ing savages within sight of the Harrodsburgh fort. — Ed. 



44 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

just returned firom the Wiandots Towns where they 
had been at a Great Council with the French and Eng- 
Hsh Officer and the Wyandots that Monsuer Baubee^® 
and the EngHsh Officer told them to be upon their 
Gaurd that the White People intended to strike thein 
very soon that tho' their fathers the French were 
thrown down the last War by the English they were 
now got up again and much Stronger than ever and 
would Assist their Childeren (the Indians) as they 
formierly did about two days after met two Delaware 
Squas who' upon interrogations gave the same Account 
travelled about forty Allies this day and! encamped on 
a Small run 

21^^ July started very Early in the Morning at 
one O'clock arrived at the Moravian Indian Town 



''^ Duperon Baby (called by the English Baubee) belonged 
to a prominent Canadian family, one branch of which had es- 
tablished itself in trade at Detroit, before the English con- 
quest. After that event, Baby declined the oath of allegiance, 
and desired to retire to France. Having changed his opinion, 
he became a loyal British subject, and during Pontiac's con- 
spiracy furnished much assistance to the EngHsh garrison. 
His influence with the Indians was large, and during the 
Revolution and succeeding Indian wars the Detroit command- 
ants utiHzed it for the British cause. Baby was commissioned 
colonel of militia and deputy Indian agent, with a large salary, 
being also given a considerable grant of land. He attended 
all Indian councils, but seldom personally went on the war- 
path, although he is said to have commanded the Detroit 
miHtia in the campaign against Wayne (i794)- Marrying 
Susanne Reaume, he had a considerable family. One daughter 
married Col. WilHam Caldwell, and a daughter by an Indian 
mother married Blue Jacket. His son James became promi- 
nent in British councils, and served in the War of 1812-15.- 
Upon surrender of Detroit to the Americans (1796), the Baby 
family settled in the neighborhood of Windsor, Ont. Col. 
Duperon Baby died about the time of this removal. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 45 

Examined the Minister (a Dutchman) ^^ concerning 
the Council lately held with the Indians by the French 
who Confirmed the Accounts before related six Miles 
from the Moravian Town Passed a Small Delaware 
Town a Delaware Man rode with us to New Comers 
Town ^-i where we Encamped having travelled about 
30 Miles 

22<^ July set off Early in the Morning for Kosh- 
ocktin the Cheif Town of the Dela wares Passed 
White Eyes' Town about 10 o'Clock Arrived at 
Koshocktin at 1 O'Clock taken to the Council 



^1 Probably Wood was now at Schonbrunn, some three 
miles southeast of New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas County, 
Ohio. This was built in 1772 by mission Indians, largely of 
the Delaware tribe, but was deserted in 1777. Reoccupied in 
1779. it was soon abandoned for New Schonbrunn, on the 
west bank of Tuscarawas River. Another Moravian village, 
known as Gnadenhiitten (tents of grace) was on the site of 
the present Ohio town of that name. The senior missionary 
in charge was David Zeisberger. Born in Moravia in 1721, 
his parents emigrated to Saxony when he was five years of 
age, and later (1736) to Georgia, where their son followed 
them in 1740. After three years of work among the Creek 
Indians, Zeisberger was sent to Pennsylvania, where at 
Bethlehem he studied Indian languages, fitting for his future 
work. He passed some years among the Iroquois, but finally 
became identified with the Delawares. Their migration to the 
Ohio Valley (1771-72) was arranged by him, and he remained 
with his converts in the vicissitudes of their fate, until his 
death in 1808 at Goshen, Ohio. During the Revolution he at- 
tempted to maintain neutrality, but aided the commandant at 
Pittsburgh with frequent and important information. — Ed. 

■^3 Newcomerstown was on the north bank of the Tuscara- 
was, within the limits of the present town of that name in 
Tuscarawas County. It was the chief town of the Delawares 
after their removal to the Muskingum. The small town be- 
tween that and Gnadenhiitten may have been Salem, a third 
Moravian town, near the present village of that name. — Ed. 



46 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

House ^^ found Many of the Indians drunk and King 
New Comer a Sleep ^* waked the King at Dark and 
DeHvered the following speech to him ' in the Presence 
of Winganum^^ Young Killbuck and a Number of 
other Warriours Brothers the Delawares your El- 
der Brothers in Virginia in their Great Council have 
Appointed me to come to this Place in Order to As- 
sure you that their hearts are good towards you that 
they are desirous of brightning the Antient Chain 
of Freindship between you and them and for which 
they have Appointed Commissioners to meet you and 
the other Nations in a General Council at Fort Pitt 
in [blank in MS.] days from this time when they will 
be glad to meet the Cheifs of your Nation and will 
use their best Endeavours to give you a hearty Wel- 
come 

Brothers I have heard with great Concern that 



'''3 Coshocton (Indian name Goschachgunk) lay in the forks 
of the Muskingum and Tuscarawas on the north side of the 
latter stream. It was built about 1775 and was composed of 
log-houses and a large council-house ranged along a regular 
street, and forming a considerable village. It was the chief 
town of the Turtle clan of the Delawares, and the capital of 
the tribe until its destruction by Brodhead in 1781. White 
Eyes's Town lay on a plain some ten miles south of the Tus- 
carawas, and east of Coshocton. — Ed. 

'■* Newcomer (or Netawatwes) was principal chief of the 
Delawares, succeeding Beaver in that ofifice about 1772. He 
had formerly dwelt on the Susquehanna, and signed the treaty 
of Conestoga in 1718. Upon his removal to the Ohio country, 
he lived first on the Cuyahoga, settling later upon the Tus- 
carawas, near the site of the present town named for him. 
The aged chief died at Pittsburgh in 1776, while attending a 
treaty at that place. — Ed. 

■^5 Wingenund was an important Delaware chief, later hos- 
tile to the Americans. About 1778 he removed his village to 
the Sandusky, where he assisted in the torture of Col. William 
Crawford in 1782. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 47 

you have lately been in Council with the French and 
Wyandots and that you have received a Speech from 
the French and a belt and String of Black Wampum 
as there has long subsisted the Greatest Freindship 
between you and us I desire and insist that you will 
make me Acquainted with any thing which may have 
been said to you by the French or any others to the 
Prejudice of your Elder Brothers of Virginia A 
String of White Wampum 

23d' of July the King and 'Cheifs of the Dela- 
wares met in the Council House and delivered the 
following Answer to my Speech of Yesterday Broth- 
ers the Bigknife your Brothers the Delawares are 
very thankful to you for your good talk to them Yes- 
terday and are glad to find their Brothers hearts are 
good towards them and that they will be joy full in 
meeting them at the time and place you Mention 
Brother in Order to Convince our Elder Brothers of 
Virginia that we desire to live in freindship with them 
I now deliver you this Belt and String they were sent 
to us by an English Man and French Man at Fort De- 
troit with a Message that the People of Virginia were 
determined to strike us that they would come upon 
us two different Ways the one by the Way of the 
Lakes and the other by the Ohio and that the Viirgin- 
ians were determined to drive us off and to take our 
Lands that we must be constantly on our Gaurd and 
not to give any Credit to whatever you said as you 
were a people not to be depended upon that the Vir- 
ginians would invite Us to a treaty but we must not 
go at any rate and to take particular Notice of the Ad- 
vice they gave which proceeded from Motives of real 



48 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

P>eindship and nothing else Delivers the Belt and 
String 

I then hired a Man to go with me to the Seneca 
Towns set off in a hard rain passed thro' a Town 
of the Muncys and made them Acquainted with my 
business kept up White Womans Creek Crossing it 
Six times and Corcosan Creek once lodged at Mo- 
hickins old Town now Inhabited by Delawares^^ 
travelled about 38 Miles this day the Course nearly 
West 

24*^ July set off very early in the Morning trav- 
elled very Constant till twelve O'Clock when we Ar- 
rived at Indian Nicholas's and then Proceeded on till 
Night and encamped near a Small run (rain all Night 
Travelled about 45 Miles the same Course as Yester- 
day 

25^^ set out very early in the Morning rode Con- 
stant till 5 o'clock in the afternoon when we Ar- 
rived at the Seneca Town'^'' where we found Logan 
The Snake the Big Appletree with Several of the Min- 



■"■^ White Woman's Creek, now known as Walhonding, was 
so named from Mary Harris, a captive who adopted Indian 
ways, and lived in this vicinity as early as 1751. See Darling- 
ton, Christopher Gist's Journals (Pittsburgh, 1893), pp. 41, 
114. 

The Munsee town here noted is shown on a map in Hector 
St. John de Crevecoeur, Lettres d'tin Cultivateur Americain 
(Paris, 1787), iii, p. 4i3- It was on the north bank of White 
Woman's Creek, just above Killbuck's Creek. Corcosan Creek 
is noted on this same map as Caucussing, now known as 
Mohican River from the town here noted by Wood. The 
town lay on the west bank where the stream joins the Wal- 
honding. — Ed. 

'^'^ This town has usually been identified with Pluggy's Town, 
but Wood visited that place later. From the courses and 
distances travelled it would appear to be the Mingo or Seneca 
town where Logan in 1778 was found by Simon Kenton; it 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 49 

goes who were lately Prisoners at Fort Pitt they all 
Appeared to be Prety Much in Liquor and very in- 
quisitive to know my Business called them together 
and made the same speech to them which I had be- 
fore made to the Delawares they made no other An- 
swer but they would Acquaint the rest of their Nation 
with Vv^hat I had said and discovered that the Indians 
were very Angry Many of them Painted themselves 
black we Encamped near the Town about ten 
O'clock at Night one of the Indians came and 
Stamped upon my head as I lay a Sleep waked 
and saw several Indians with Knives and Tom- 
hawks a Squaw informed us privately that they in- 
tended to kill us advised us to hide ourselves in the 
Woods v/hich we did till Morning when we returned 
again into the Town Logan repeated in Plain Eng- 
lish the Manner in which the People of Virginia had 
killed his Mother Sister and all his Relations during 
which he wept and Sung Alternately'^^ and concluded 
with telling me the Revenge he had taken he then 
told me that several of the Mingoes who were long 
Prisoners at Fort Pitt^® wanted to kill us and asked 



was situated on the trail between Wapatomica and upper 
Sandusky, in what is now Hardin County, Ohio. See Draper 
MSS., 2BB3.— Ed. 

^8 This statement that Logan could repeat his wrongs in 
"plain English" is interesting in view of the discussion over 
the authorship of his famous speech. See Dunmore's War, 
p. 305, note 21, and references therein cited. — Ed. 

■^^ These were the captives taken by Dunmore after the 
treaty of Camp Charlotte, in which the Mingo refused to ac- 
quiesce. See Ibid, p. 303. They were kept at Fort Pitt dur- 
ing the winter of 1774-75, but in the spring were permitted to 
escape. — Ed, 
4 



50 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

me whether I was affraid to which I answered 1 was 
not that we were two lone Men where [who were] 
sent to dehver a message to them which we had done 
that we were in their Power and had no way to defend 
ourselves that they must kill us if they thought proper 
to which he (replied that we should not be hurt 

26^11 July at 9 O'Clock in the Morning hired two 
fresh horses and set off for the Wyandot Towns trav- 
elled very fast and Constant till 7 O'Clock in the 
Evening when we Arrived at the Town sent off Run- 
ners for the Cheifs who were distant about twenty 
Miles 

27*^1 July at One O'Clock the Wyandots sent to 
my Camp to Inform me the Cheifs were Arrived and 
ready at their Council House to hear what I had to 
say to them and that two of the Tawaas^^ were there 
and would be iready to Carry my speech to their Na- 
tion went to the Council House and delivered the 
following Speech to the Wyandots and Tawaas 

Brothers the Wyandots and Tawaas your Brothers 
of Virginia in .their great Council desirous of bright- 
ning the Chain of Freindship between you and them 
have Appointed Commissioners to meet the Cheifs of 
the different Nations of Indians on the Ohio and 
Lakes at Fort Pitt in forty six days from this time 
and have ordered me to come to this place to Assure 
you that their Hearts are good towards you and that 
they hope to agree upon a peace with all the Indians 
so their Childeren and ours may hereaftei* live in the 
Greatest Freindship to give you a kind Invitation to 



80 This council occurred at Upper Sandusky. For the 
Tawaas (Ottawa) see Dunmore's War, p. 273, note 90. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 51 

their Council fire and that they will Endeavor to give 
you a hearty welcome Brothers It is with Great Con- 
cern I have lately heard that some people who I con- 
sider to be enemies as well to you as to us have en- 
deavoured to make your Nations believe that the 
People of Virginia intended to strike you this you 
may be Assured is the Greatest falsity as I can with 
truth assure you that they desire to live in Strict 
Freindship with all Indians while they continue peace- 
able with us 

Brothers the Tawaas It is with great pleasure I 
take the Opportunity in the name of my Countrymen 
to return you thanks for the kind Treatment given by 
your Nation to one of our young Brothers who was 
delivered into your hands Last Summer by the Shaw- 
anese and to Assure you that if any of your people 
should ever fall into our hands they will meet with 
the same freindly treatment ^^ A String of White 
Wampum Each 

The War Post then Ans weired Brother the Big 
Knife We have heard what you have said and desire 
time till to Morrow afternoon to consider it when we 
will meet you again in the Council house 

In the afternoon War Post and five or six other 
Indians came to my Camp they said they were come 
to talk with me as freinds that they always Under- 
stood that the English had but one King who lived 
over the Great Water that they were Much Surprized 
to hear that we were at War with ourselves and that 
there had been several Engagements at Boston in which 



^1 This refers to Ezekiel (misprinted Ephraim) Field, for 
whose capture see Ibid, pp. 113, 114, note 65. — Ed. 



52 



KEi^'OLUriON ON U'FFER OHIO 



a great Number of Men were killed on both sides 
that as he had been told many different Stories they 
would be glad to know the Cause of the dispute or 
whether we Expected or desired their Assistance I 
then began and gave them a true and Just Account 
from the beginning of the disputes with Great Britain 
and Assured them that we did not stand in need of 
or desire any Assistance from them or any other Na- 
tion but that we wished them to Continue in peace 
and freindliness with us by Observing a Strict neu- 
trality as we had not the least doubt that all differ- 
ences between ourselves would be soon Accomo- 
dated at the same time I made them Acquainted with 
rhe great Unanimity among the Americans and that 
they v/ere now become so strong as not to fear any 
power on the face of the Earth In this Conversation 
I discovered that the Huron Indians had been led to 
beleive that the People of Virginia were a different 
and distinct Nation from the other Colonies and that 
by going to War with us they need not fear the Inter- 
position of the other Colonies this I think I Effectu- 
ally removed by making them Acquainted with the 
Proceedings of the Continental Congress and that the 
Colonies were bound and Obliged to defend each 
other against Attacks from Whatever Quarter they 
might come these Questions were likewise put to me 
at other times by the Shawanese Delawares Mingoes 
and Tawaas and Answered in the same Manner 

28*^ July went to the Council house at two 
O'clock agreable to the Appointment of the Wyan- 
dots when Rotunda or the War Post in the Po-esence 
of Coronyatta Surrahawa Aughunta and other War- 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 53 

riors of the Wyandots, and Ninnis and Mangagata of 
the Tawaas deUvered the following Answer to my 
speech of Yesterday Brother the Bigknife you tell 
us you were sent to our Towns by the Great Men of 
Virginia to let us know that there is now a large 
Council fire kindling at Fort Pitt that it would be 
ready in forty six days and we should hear there 
every thing that was good Brother we have listned 
to what you have said with great Attention and Con- 
sidered it well we think it is good and will immedi- 
ately send it Over the Lakes to our Cheifs^- and will 
be ruled by them in our determinations Brother I 
have nothing farther to say but that it is always a 
Custom with us that Whatever News we hear we im- 
mediately send it to our head Men as we shall on this 
Occasion, after delivering the Answer Rotunda 
told me that he heard the People of Virginia were 
now building a Fort on Kentucke and intended to 
drive off all the Indians and take Possession of their 
Lands I told him that I never heaird of any Fort 
being built on Kentucke but that our People were 
settling very fast in that Country which they had an 
Undoubted right to do the whole Country to the East- 
ward of the Ohio as low down as the Cherokee River 
was purchased from the Six Nations at the Treaty at 
Fort Stanwix and that since which the People of 
Virginia had purchased the Pretended right of the 
Cherokees that we Should be able to make them sen- 
sible of this at the Treaty to be held at Fort Pitt and 



82 The chief settlements of the Huron or Wyandot were 
opposite Detroit, north of Lake Erie. It was proposed to 
consult these chiefs before coming to a decision. — Ed. 



54 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

that they might rest Assured that we had no thoughts 
of enoroaching any farther than we had already pur- 
chased and honestly paid for he then enquired after 
news and desired to know whether we intended to 
take Fort Detroit from the Regulars this I told them 
I knew not but beleived the Americans looked upon 
it to be a place of no Consequence to them and that 
they would not Concern with it here I took an Op- 
portunity of telling them that we had already taken 
Tyconderoga and Crown Point without any loss and 
that we had beaten the Regulars in every Engage- 
ment with very Considerable loss on their sides and 
very inconsiderable on ours I then told him I was 
well Acquainted with the Steps taken by the Officer 
Commanding at Fort D'Troit and Monsieur Baubee 
to prejudice them against the Americans in General 
and Virginia in particular I then produced the Belt 
and String delivered to me by the Delawares and 
asked him if he knew them here they all appeared 
to be much Surprised but Acknowledged that they did 
upon which I proceeded to repeat what was said when 
they were delivered all of which they Acknowledged 
Except that the French were concerned in it they 
said Monsieur Baubee was present but that he did 
not interfere but added that the Englishmen told them 
that the Virginians would take the whole Country if 
they did not all join together against them I told 
War Post that I was well Acquainted with the whole 
Matter that I had got it out at the different Towns by 
degrees first from the Squaws and then from the 
Men he then desired me to give him a Copy of the 
Speech which I made in the Council Yesterday that 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 55 

no part of it might be forgot this I readily complied 
with and we parted in the most freindly Manner®^ 



83 John Dodge, a Connecticut trader at the Sandusky vil- 
lage, gave the following additional particulars of Wood's mis- 
sion to the Wyandot towns: "In July, 1775, Captain James 
Woods called at my house, on his way to the different Indian 
towns, where he was going to invite them, in the name of the 
Congress, to a treaty to be held at Fort Pitt the ensuing fall ; 
I attended him to their villages, and the savages promised 
him they would be there. Captain Woods also invited me to 
go with the Indians to the treaty, as they were in want of an 
interpreter, which I readily agreed to. Soon after the depart- 
ure of Captain Woods, the Commander of Fort Detroit sent 
for the savages in and about Sandusky, and told them that he 
heard they were invited by the Americans to a treaty at Pitts- 
burgh, which they told him was true ; on which he delivered 
them a talk to the following purport: That he was their 
father, and as such he would advise them as his own children; 
that the Colonists, who were to meet them at Pittsburgh, were 
a bad people ; that by the indulgence of their Protector, they 
had grown a numerous and saucy people ; that the Great King, 
not thinking they would have the assurance to oppose his just 
laws, had kept but a few troops in America for some years 
past ; that those men, being ignorant of their incapacity to go 
through with what they intend, propose to cut off the regulars 
in this country, and then you Indians, and have all America 
to themselves ; and all they want is, under the shew of friend- 
ship to get you into their hands as hostages, and there hold 
you, till your nations shall comply with their terms, which if 
they refuse, you will all be massacred. Therefore, do not go 
by any means; but if you will join me, and keep them at bay 
a little, while the King, our father will send large fleets and 
armies to our assistance, and we will soon subdue them, and 
have their plantations to ourselves.' 

This talk so dismayed the Indians, that they came to me, 
and said they would not go to the treaty, at the same time 
teUing me what the Governor of Detroit had said to them. 
On this Mr. James Heron and myself, having the cause of 
our country at heart, asserted that what the Governor had 
said was false, and told them that the Colonists would not 
hurt a hair of their heads ; and if they would go to the treaty, 
that I, with Mr. Heron, would be security, and pledge our 
property to the amount of 4000 1. for their safe return. 
This, with the arrival of Mr. Richard Butler with fresh in- 
vitations, induced some of them to go with me to the treaty." — 
Almon's Remembrancer, viii, p. 73. — Ed. 



56 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

I then sent Messages by the Tawaas to the Tawix- 
tawees, Picks and other Nations inhabiting the Mi- 
mamis and Wabash Rivers with Invitations to meet 
at the Treaty^* 

39<^^ July set off from the Wyandots Town for 
Pluggys Town travelled very fast and Constant 
Eight hours most of the Way thro' extensive Plains 
and Meadows Course South East 

30^^ Started before sun rise travelled down the 
Scioto River till twelve O'Clock when we Arrived at 
the Town found Pluggy^^ was from home and all the 
Indians drunk and very troublesome left a String of 
Wampum and Speech for Pluggy purchased some 
dried Meat from an Indian and then set off for the 
big salt Licks ^"^ where I Arrived at Dark found five 
Seneca Hunters incamped and an old Squaw in a 
Cabbin where we took up our Lodging 

3ist July left the Salt Licks at 7 O'Clock in the 
Morning in Company with a Seneca Man and Wo- 
man who were going to the Shawanese Towns tra- 
velled Eight and a half Hours very Constant when 



8*Twigtwee (Tawixtawee) was the English term for the 
Miami Indians, a large tribe of Algonquian stock, who for the 
most part were living along the Wabash and Maumee rivers. 
They had chiefly been in the French interest before 1763, but 
then became EngHsh partisans, hostile to the American 
colonists. For the Picts see ante, note 30. — Ed. 

^^ Pluggy was a Mohawk, who with a band of unorganized, 
undisciplined followers had migrated westward about 1772 
and settled upon the present site of Delaware, Ohio. He was 
in the French and Indian War, and counselled with Dunmore 
at Fort Pitt, September, 1774. In a raid into Kentucky in 
December, 1776, Pluggy was killed during an attack on McClel- 
land's Station. — Ed. 

^6 This was the town raided by Crawford in October, 1774;. 
See Dunmore' s War, p. 304, note 17. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 57 

we Arrived at the Shawanese Towns ^' where I spoke 
to Kishanosity or the Hardman desired him to call 
the Cheifs of the different Towns together as soon as 
Possible that I had something to say to them from the 
Great Council of Virginia the Hardman ^^ then in- 
formed me that Chenusaw had returned home the 
night before and that he had brought the most alarm- 
ing Accounts from Virginia (viz') that the People 
of Virginia were all determined upon War v/ith the 
Indians except the Governor who w^as for peace but 
was obliged to fly on board of a ship to save his own 
life that the hostages found they were to be made 
Slaves of and sent to some other Country that the 
White People were all preparing for War and that 
they shewed him many Indian scalps among which 
Cuttemwha knev/ his Brothers that the Hostages de- 
termined if Possible to make their Escape and Accord- 
ingly sett off in the Night all of them together that 
the next day he being behind the other two at some 
distance was seized by three Men that he heard them 
determine to kill him on which one of them proceeded 
to Load his Gun while the other two held him by the 
Arms that before the Man loaded the Gun he found 
Means to disengage himself and made his Escape 
leaving his Gun and every thing also that he soon 
after heard Several Guns and v/as possitive that Cut- 
temwha and Neawau were both killed as he had been 



s'' The principal Shawnee towns were located in the Scioto 
Valley, between the present Chillicothe and Circleville. See 
Ibid., pp. 290, 292, 301, notes 5, 7, 14.— Ed. 

88 See description of a visit to Hardman in 1773 by Rev. 
David Jones, Journal of Tzvo Visits to zvest side of Ohio 
(N. Y., 1866 reprint), p. 52.— Ed. 



58 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Sixty days travelling and had heard nothing of them 
I told Kishanosity that most of what Chenusaw had 
informed him was false and that I would be glad he 
would send for him which he did as soon as he 
came I explained the whole Matter to him and a 
Number of other Indians and Informed them that 
Cuttemwha and Neawau were both well and on the 
Road and that they were bringing his Cloaths and 
every thing which he had left behind him and that it 
was very unlucky for him he did not turn back as the 
others had done to have got a horse and Saddle to 
ride home as they had several of the Indians were 
employed in Conjuring the whole night during which 
they kept up a Constant howling like Wolves till day 
light 

][st August Kishanosity sent me word he had sent 
for the Cheifs of the other Towns and that they 
would meet me in the Council house to Morrow Morn- 
ing Employed ourselves the remaining part of the 
day in enquiries of the Squaws concerning the Speeches 
and belts sent to the Shawanese by the French at 
Fort D'Troit who all gave the same Accounts we had 
before heard with this addition that the Picts and 
Tawixtawees had Accepted the Belts but that the 
Shawanese had dug a hole in the Ground and buried 
them never to rise again 

2^ August at 10 o'clock a runner came and In- 
formed me the Cheifs were Assembled in the Council 
House ready to receive me upon which I went and 
was received in the most freindly manner when I de- 
livered the following speech to Kishanosity in the 
Presence of the Shade and Snake the Milkman 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 59 

Shawanese Ben and many other Cheifs and War- 
riors Brothers the Shawaneses your Elder Brothers 
of Virginia in their great Council have appointed me 
with five others to meet all the Cheifs of the different 
Nations of Indians on the Ohio and Lakes in forty 
one days from this time at Fort Pitt in Order to 
Brighten the Chain of Freindship between them and 
the People of Virginia and have ordered me to come 
to this Place to assure you that their Hearts are good 
towards you and that they will be glad to meet the 
Cheifs of your Nation fully to Confirm the Peace 
agreed upon last fall between Lord Dunmore and the 
Shawanese and Expect you will be fully prepared to 
Comply with your part of the Conditions at that 
time I am very Glad to see your Brother Chenusaw 
is returned safe he left us without any reason that 
we know of but Imagine it must be Owing to some 
Mistake or other as soon as we found he was gone 
we sent many People on Horseback with written pa- 
pers directing all our people to treat him kindly so 
that he might return to you in Safety your Brothers 
Cuttemwha and Neawau are well they are now on 
the way and you may depend will be safely brought 
to the Treaty Cuttemwha desired me to tell you to 
be Strong and to come at the time I appoint and 
to bring some of your wise Women along with you A 
String of White Wampum 

after delivering the Speech I called for Chenusaw 
but was Informed he was ashamed to Appear I then 
at their Desire Explained the nature of the dispute 
with Lord Dunmore and Convinced them that Chenu- 
saw had not told them the truth and also Explained 



6o REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to them the dispute with Great Britain in the same 
Manner which I had before done to the Wyandots 
and other Nations of Indians the Hardman then 
made the following Answer to my Speech 

Brother the Big knife I am very thankful as well 
as all my freinds here present for your good speech 
delivered to us at our Council fire It gives us great 
Pleasure to think that our Brothers the big knife have 
not forgot us and that v/e shall have an Opportunity 
of talking to them in Freinship at the time you now 
Mention we are much Oblidged to our Brothers of 
Virginia for their Care in directing all their People 
to let our Birother Chenusaw come to us without re- 
ceiveing any hurt his coming away in the Manner 
he did proceeded from Mistake in not Understanding 
your Language we are fully Satisfied with what you 
have told us and hope you'll not think hard of us for 
his bad behaviour after which Kishanosity and other 
Cheifs enquired after News whether a great Many of 
our Young Men were not going to Boston to War 
against the English Red Coats and if we had not sev- 
eral Engagements with them to which I answered that 
but few Men were to go from Virginia as there were 
a great Sufficiency of Men in New England to Man- 
age all the Regular Troops in America or which they 
were Able to send and as for the Engagements there 
had been several in all of which we had beatten them 
with great loss on thelir side and very small on Ours 
but that we were in daily Expectation of all differ- 
ences being setled between the two Countries to the 
Satisfaction of both. The Shade then Informed me 
that he had Just returned from the Miami River that 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 6l 

he met Catfish and a Number of other Delawares on 
the Ohio with many things which they had Robbed 
the Inhabitants of on the Great Kanhawa that he 
gave me this Information least his Brothers the Big 
knife should blame the Shawanese for it Kishanosity 
then Complained of the Encroachments of the Vir- 
ginians he said they were now settling in Great Num- 
bers in the Midst of their Hunting Grounds on the 
Kentucke River and that many of our people Crossed 
the Ohio killed and drove off their Game he then 
Asked my Advice whether they should go ancf talk 
to the People on Kentucke about it tO' which I replied 
that I thought it would be very Improper least some 
of our bad people might do them an Injury but ad- 
vised them to let the Matter alone till the Treaty 
when I made no doubt but we should be able to make 
them sensible that we had already purchased the 
Lands on Kentucke River from the Six Nations at 
the Treaty of Fort Stanwix and as to our Hunters 
Grossing the River and Killing the Game we should 
do every thing in our power to prevent it in future 
he then desired me to beg their brothers the big knife 
not to listen to any bad stories which they might hear 
as he had great reason to Beleive that David Dun- 
can ^^ would make many false reports that he had 
been talking a Great deal to the foolish Women and 



S9 David Duncan was an important Pennsylvania trader in 
the Indian country in the early Revolution. His home was at 
Shippensburgh, and at the outbreak of Dunmore's War he was 
rescued by White Eyes from danger of death. In the later 
years of the Revolution he made his home in Westmoreland 
County, and acted as contractor for military supplies at Fort 
Pitt.— Ed. 



62 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

paid no regard to what the Men said to him I then 
told him that I had been Informed that the Command- 
ing Officer at Fort De Troit and Monseiur Baubee 
had sent a Belt and String of Black Wampum to their 
Nation with a Speech that the people of Virginia 
Intended to drive them off and tO' take their Lands 
recommending them and the other Nations to Join 
together in Order to Oppose them and at the same 
time advised them not to Listen tO' any thing which 
might be said to them by the Virginians that they 
were a people not to be depended upon all of which 
the Shawanese Acknowledged they said that what- 
ever they had heard or received from them they had 
Dug a hole in the Ground and Buried them never to 
rise again I was then Informed by a Mohicon In- 
dian ^'^ who spoke good English that he had Just Re- 
turned from Kacayuga where he saw a Greater Num- 
ber of Indians than he had ever seen before and that 



90 The Mahican (Mohegan) Indians, a large branch of the 
Algonquian stock, were encountered by the whites in Con- 
necticut and on the Hudson River. The western division 
were frequently in alliance with the Iroquois, and after selling 
their lands to the Dutch (about 1680)^ roamed through- 
out the Western country. The French called them Loups 
(Wolves), from one of their clan totems, and they had a vil- 
lage on the Detroit River before the building of the French 
fort at that place (1701). Gradually they drew toward the 
Delawares, with whom they were cognate, and about 1746 a 
considerable band of Mahican settled in Wyoming Valley, 
Pennsylvania. Thence they removed with the Delawares to 
the Ohio region, and settled near them, although in separate 
villages. After the Revolution, this western branch became 
amalgamated with the Delawares. The eastern branch re- 
mained in Connecticut until after the Revolution, some of 
them serving in the Continental armies. The Christianized 
portion of the tribe, under Samson Occam, became part of the 
Brothertown Indians, who removed first to New York and 
finally to Wisconsin. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 63 

we might Expect Warmer Work this fall than had 
ever happened before I was likewise Informed by 
James Bavard a Trader in the Shawanese Towns that 
the Indians were Constantly Counseling and that the 
Women all seemed very uneasy in Expectations that 
there would be War I then set off from the Sha- 
wanese Towns on my return Called at the Kiocopo^^ 
Town and then proceeded twenty Miles and Encamped 

3^ August sett off before sun rise rode hard and 
Constant til Seven O Clock in the Evening met a 
Shawanese Man who Informed me that one of theii" 
Nation was lately Killed on Kentucke River and that 
the white People said it was done by the Southern 
Indians Travelled about Forty Miles and Encamped 
rains hard all Night 

4*^ August rains hard set off early Travelled 
about thirty Eight Miles stopped at a Delaware Wo- 
mans Cabbin where I staid all night nothing to eat 
the two days past but Blackberry's 

5^^ August set off in a hard rain very Early Tra- 
velled four Hours when I arrived at Captain White 
Eyes's Purchased some Meat from an Indian set 
off for New Comers Town at which I staid two 
Hours proceeded to the Lower Moravian Town^^ 



®i Kiscapoo (Kiskapookee) was the settlement of the Shaw- 
nee clan by that name. At this time it was located about a 
mile west of the Scioto, in the upper part of the present Picka- 
way County, Ohio (see accompanying Crevecoeur map). In 
1773 Richard Butler had a trading house at this town, and 
somewhat earlier there was born here the famous Shawnee 
chief Tecumseh. This clan of Shawnee were especially hos- 
tile to American colonists. — Ed, 

92 This was Gnadenhiitten, for which see ante, p. 45, note 
71.— Ed. 



64 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

where we Arrived at Dark taken to the Cabbin of 
an Indian and Hospitably Entertained 

gth August (Sunday) went to Church with the 
Indians at which were present about One hundred 
and fifty of them, who all Behaved with the Greatest 
Decency and Decorum the Minister who resides at 
this Town is a German of the Moravian Sect has 
Lived with them seveiral Years has Acquired their 
Language and taught most of them the EngUsh and 
German he prayed in the Delaware Language 
Preached in the English and sung Psalms in the Ger- 
man in which the Indians Joined and Performed 
that part of Divine Service in a Manner really Ini- 
mitable the Church is a Decent Square Log Building 
with Plank floars and Benches Ornamented with 
Several Pieces of German Scripture Paintings has a 
Small Cupola with a Bell and a very Indifferent Spin- 
net ^^ on which an Indian played the remaining part 
of the day employed in Hunting for our Horses Un- 
successfully 

gth August at two O'clock in the afternoon found 
our Horses and Immediately set off Travelled about 
Twenty Miles and Encamped 

9*^ August set off early in the Morning travelled 
about forty five Miles and encamped at dark 

10*^ August my Horse failed came to an Indian 
Hunting Camp where I hired an Horse of an Indian 
Woman and left mine in her Care to be brought to 
Fort Pitt in Ten Days Travelled about forty five 



»3 Possibly the first musical instrument of this sort ever 
used in Ohio. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 65 

Miles when I arrived at Mr John Gibsons^* where I 
staid all Night 

11*^ August sett off after Bireakfast and Arrived 
Fort Pitt about 3 oClock in the afternoon where I 
found several Senecas who had Just come from a 
Treaty which had been held at Niagara by Guy Johns- 
ton ^^ I Interrogated them but found that they had 
got their Lesson not to make any Discovery's they 
said that the Indian Agent told them to lie still and 
not to Concern with the Dispute between the People 
of Great Britian and America^*' 

12*^ August I sett off from Fort Pitt for Win- 



9* Gibson's trading house was situated at Logstown ; see 
ante, p. 26, note 52. — Ed. 

»* Guy Johnson was nephew and son-in-law of Sir William 
Johnson, whom he succeeded in the Indian superintendency 
on the latter's death in 1774. Born in Ireland in 1740, he 
came early to America, led provincial troops in the French 
and Indian War, and possessed a fine estate known as Guy 
Park, in New York state. A professed Loyalist, he fled to 
Canada at the beginning of the Revolution, where he assisted 
with his Indian allies in the defense of that province. During 
the winter of 1775-76 he visited England, coming again to 
New York in August, 1776. He was later in Canada, retain- 
ing his Indian superintendency until 1783. He died in Lon- 
don, 1788. Johnson was not present at a treaty at Niagara 
in the summer of 1775. Wood was misinformed in regard to 
his presence at this place. For a full account of Johnson's 
movements during the summer of 1775, see his letter to Dart- 
mouth in N. Y. Colon. Docs., viii, pp. 635-637. See also the 
letter of Col. Adam Stephen in Amer. Archives, 4th series, 
iii, pp. 777, 77%, wherein he says that the tribes living on the 
Allegheny had been to a treaty at Niagara, and others to 
Caughnawaga, near Montreal, to meet Guy Johnson. — Ed. 

»«At the Oswego conference in May, 1775, Guy Johnson 
urged neutrality upon the western portions of the Iroquois 
tribesmen; but in July, he received orders from Dartmouth 
to induce the Six Nations to take up the hatchet against the 
rebellious colonists.— AT. Y. Colon. Docs., viii, p. 596. — Ed. 
5 



66 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Chester where I Arrived in five days the Committee 
recommended that I would send off an Express to 
the Convention at Richmond who were still sitting 
which I did the next Morning with the following Let- 
ter Directed to the Honble Peyton Randolph Es- 
quire.^^ 

Sir — I am just now returned from my Expedition 
to the Indian Towns and have Inclosed you Extracts 
from my Journal which Contains every Material Oc- 
curance that happened Dureing my tour through the 
Nations of Shawanese Delawares Senicas and Wian- 
dots the Cheifs of which have Engaged to .Attend 
the Treaty at Fort Pitt the 10*^ of the next Month 
from every discovery I was able to make the Indians 
are forming a General Confederacy against the Colony 
having been led to beleive that we are a people Quite 
different and distinct from the other Colonies I In- 
tend myself the Honor of Waiting on the Convention 
if they should not rise before the 25*^ in Order to 
give them every Information in my power I wou'd 
beg leave to make an Observation that there is no 
Garrison at Fort Pitt that the Inhabitants in the 
Neighbourhood of it are in the most defenceless situa- 
tion and that there will be in my Opinion at least five 



«7 Peyton Randolph (1721-75) was president of the Virginia 
convention, as well as president of the first Continental Con- 
gress. He died while in attendance on the second Congress 
in October, 1775. A life-long patriot, he had while Kin.^'s at- 
torney for the colony of Virginia resisted what was considered 
the usurpation of Governor Dinwiddie. He was prominent 
in opposition to the Stamp Act, and chairman of the first com- 
mittee of correspondence. His death was a loss to theAmeri- 
can cause. — "Ed. ■ \ "'] \:!'iM^ 



^ .^ 


^^^^^^^ 




r^ 


Bi. 


^ 


fd 


^m 


1 




J n 






^f ' 






s 

\ 


J 



Peyton Randolph 

After the painting in Independence Hall, Philadelphia 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 67 

hundred Indians at the Treaty ^^ I have the Honor 
to be &c 
September 20th 1775 



The following is the Information given by the Doc- 
tor a Mohawk who was sent to Invite the Six Nation 
People on the Ohio to a Treaty at Pittsburgh on the 
part of Virginia from the Upper Town Six Cheifs 
will Attend but he is not Certain what Numbeo- will 
be down from thence in the whole but they may be 
Expected in two or three days that they designed 
to meet at the White Mingos house and would come 
down from thence in a body Simon Girty who in- 
terprets for the Doctor and who deliv&red the invita- 
tion speech to him desired him to endeavour to dis- 
cover the Intentions of the Indians he was sent to 
whether the French were tampering with them and 
what proposals were made by them which he Under- 
took to do on a promise of Secresy and (reports that 
the Commanding Officer at Niagara®^ and Guy John- 
son had invited them the Senecas to a Treaty at Ni- 
agara where he put them in mind of their Antient 



^8 The Virginia convention recognized the services of James 
Wood by passing a resolution (Jan. 6, 1776) to the effect that 
having been two months on the mission entrusted to him by 
the house of burgesses, and having had his life endangered, 
by the exercise of all his abilities he had engaged the chiefs 
to attend the treaty; and because of the difficulties and dan- 
gers he had undergone, was accordingly voted an honorarium 
of £2=;o. — Amer. Archives, 4th series, iv, pp. no, in. — Ed. 

99 The commandant at Niagara was Col. John Caldwell, 
who came to America in 1755 with the 7th Infantry. He was 
stationed at Fort Niagara from 1774 to November, 1776 when 
he retired from the army. His name among the Indians was 
Oguhaen j es. — Ed. 



68 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Freindship with their Father the French telHng them 
that their Hands were then each made of Silver and 
would never be injured by Rust he told them they 
would probably soon be called to a Treaty at Fort 
Pitt but that they ought not to go to it nor regard 
anything the Bigknife might say to them foir tho he 
had a very smooth Oily Tongue his Heart was not 
good that he would soon want to Cross the Great 
River which is their Line perhaps at Kanhawa or at 
Pittsburgh on pretence of keeping a Store at De Troit 
or Cayahoga^ or some other place and would tell 
them they would then get Goods very Cheap but they 
should not beleive him he only wanted to deceive them 
and take their Lands from them which they knew was 
now only a small strip that they should on no Ac- 
count allow him to Cross the Big River for if they 
did they would surely be undone they put them in 
Mind of the Treaty they had lately been at at Fort 
Pitt^ where the big knife gave them very good 
Words but they were from the Lips only and not 
from the Heart, which they might be Sensible of, 
for when they were going away he gave them little 
or no Goods, and when they Asked for Powder to 
hunt with on their way home, they got only one Double 
Handful, and the reason he would give them no more 
was, that he wanted it himself to use it against them, 
that they are now fighting with the Great King over 



1 Cuyahoga River, whose mouth is the site of Cleveland, 
was a well-known rendezvous of the Ottawa, who had a vil- 
lage upon its banks. It was also a considerable trading sta- 
tion, frequented by many tribesmen. — Ed. 

2 Referring to Connolly's treaty in June; for which see 
ante, p. 19. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 69 

the Water, from whom they get all their Powder, 
that they have not more than will serve him for Three 
Years, and then they must submit as Neither Pow- 
der or Cloaths can be made in this Country, but that 
they have Plenty of both and if they would keep hold 
of the Chain of Freindship which their Father put 
into their hands, tliey would not want, they then 
gave them a Keg of Powder & Lead in Proportion, 
and some Goods, they were desired if the Bigknife 
People should Cross the Great River to send off 
their head Men to them and tell them to go back to 
their Country, they should tell them so three times 
and if they would not Stop nor go back they then 
should send to him (the Command^ officer at Nia- 
gara) and he would speak to them and if they would 
not pay any regard to what he said he would gather 
all his People and fight them they must not be Al- 
lowed to Spoil this great Island which the good Spirit 
had allowed for them it might happen that he 
might be thrown down in the Struggle but if he fell 
they must fall with him for the Big knife had been 
pushing them back for a long time and would not 
rest till he had got all this Country but now he and 
they were so linked together they would be never 
Separated but must stand or fall together that their 
father had long ago sent his Heart to them in a Belt 
but they did not mind it but rose up with the English 
and threw him down and thought they had killed him 
but he was only knocked down and not killed and kept 
his Eyes Open all the time determined to rise again 
whenever his Children should be imposed upon that 



70 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

they were now imposed upon by the English for which 
Reason he had got on his feet again and would bring 
his Ships and fight them on the Sea Co[a]st and they 
ought to send out their People and kill them where 
ever they could find them and between them they 
would soon root them out and get Satisfaction for all 
their Injuries 



September 24th James Rogers an Adopted Shaw- 
anese informs the Commissioners that last summer 
several Messages were received by the Shawanese 
from the Chipeways Tawaas Wyandots and the French 
and English at De Troit the design of them was to 
know if the Shawanese and Virginians had made a 
firm peace to diswade them from it and threatning to 
strike them if they did as they intended to strike the 
Virginians that a Message had been sent from the 
Towns after the Cornstalk when on his way to this 
place desiring him and the Young Men to return for 
they would be cutt oflf at the Fort the Cornstalk 
would not go back but advised the Young Men to it 
they would not return without him and are all coming 
on that he is not Acquainted with the disposition of 
the six Nations but he has heard they have scolded the 
Chipeways and Tawaas that we may Judge of the 
Shawanese by this Circumstance if they are Anxious 
to hurry the Business over and get soon away their 
designs are not good his information about the Six 
Nations he got from some Shawanese who had been 
in their Country and lately returned the purport of 
the speech sent by them to the Chipaways and Tawaas 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS yi 

was that they had tied up their hands and likewise 
their own from doing any Mischeif to the White People 
and notwithstanding three of their Towns meant to 
break loose and reproved them for it severely that 
the Report of their design made the Shawanese very 
uneasy as they meant to Maintain a firm peace with 
their Bretheren which may be interrupted by it that 
he had a good Opportunity of knowing the Sentiments 
of the Shawanese and is sure they do not intend Mis- 
cheif but they may be persuaded to it by other Na- 
tions or driven into it by fear but he thinks unless 
the Shavv^anese join with them the Chipeways and 
Tawaas will not commence hostilities that the Indians 
have a suspicion that we have a Number of Armed 
Men Collected at no great distance from this place 
with a design to fall upon them when they come to 
the Treaty which gives them much Uneasiness that 
we may judge of the Sincerity of the Cornstalk from 
his discovering the Sentiments and designs of the 
other Nations which if he does not do but only says in 
General terms that all is Peace we may reasonably 
suspect him. 

Mir John Gibson Informed the Commissioners that 
he had Just received a Letter from Major John Con- 
nolly directed to him with a Speech from Lord Dun- 
more to White Eyes a Delaware Cheif requesting him 
that he would Communicate the same to White Eyes 
that he thought it a duty which he Owed his Country 
to lay them before the Commissioners and that they 
were at Liberty to make what use they pleased of the 
Letter and Speech which are as followeth 



72 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



Portsmouth Aug 9th 1775 
Dr Sir — I have safely Arrived heire and am happy 
to the Greatest Degree having so fortunately Escaped 
the Narrow Inspection of my Enemies the Enemies to 
their Country to good Oirder and Government I 
shou'd Esteem myself defective in Point of Freind- 
ship towards you shou'd I Neglect to caution you to 
Avoid an Over Zealous Exertion of what is now so 
rediculously called Patriotic Spirit but on the Con- 
trary to deport yourself with that Moderation for which 
you have been always remarkable and which must in 
this Instance tend to your Honor and advantage you 
may be assured from me Sir that the Greatest Un- 
animity now Prevails at home and that the Innovat- 
ing Spirit Amongst us here is looked upon as Ungener- 
ous and Undutifull and that the Utmost Exertion of 
the Powers of Government (if Necessary) will be 
Used to Convince the Infatuated People of their folly 
I cou'd I assure you (Sir) give you such convincing 
proofs of what I assert and from which every Reason- 
able person may conclude the Effects that nothing 
but Madness cou'd Operate upon a Man so far as to 
overlook his duty to the present Constitution and to 
form unwarrantable Associations with Enthusiasts 
whose ill timed folly must draw down upon them in- 
evitable distruction His Lordship desires you to pre- 
sent his hand to Captain White Eyes and to assure 
him that he is sorry that he had not the Pleasure of 
seeing him at the Treaty or that the Situation of Af- 
fairs prevented him from coming down Beleive me 
D^ Sir that I have no motive in writing my Senti- 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 73 

ments thus to you farther than to endeavour to Stear 
you Clear of the Misfortunes which I am Confidant 
must Involve but Unhappily too Many I have sent 
you an Address from the People of Great Britain to 
the People of America and desire you to Consider it 
Attentively which will I flatter myself Convince you 
of the Idleness of Many Declamations and of the ab- 
surdity of an Intended Slavery 

Give my love to George and tell him that he shall 
hear from me and I hope to his Advantage Inter- 
pret the Inclosed Speech to captain White Eyes from 
his Lordship be Prevailed upon to shun the Popular 
Error and Judge for yourself Act as a good Subject 
and Expect the rewards due to your Services I am 
&c 

(Signed) John Connolly 

Brother Captain White Eyes — I am glad to hear 
your good speeches sent me by Major Connolly and 
you may be assured that I shall put the one end of 
the Belt which you have sent me into the hands of 
our Great King who will be glad to hear from his 
Brothers the Delawares and will take strong hold of 
it you may (rest satisfied that our fooHsh young Men 
shall never be permited to have your Lands but on 
the Contrary the Great King will Protect you and 
Preserve you in the Possession of them Our Young 
People in this Country have been very foolish and 
done many Imprudent things for which they must soon 
be soirry and of which I make no doubt they have Ac- 
quainted you but I must desire you not to Listen to 



74 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

them as they wou'd be willing that you shou'd Act 
Equally foolish with themselves but rather Let what 
you hear pass in at one Ear and out of the other so 
that it may make no Impression on your Heart until 
you hear from me fully which shall be soon as I can 
give farther Information 

Captain White Eyes will please to Acquaint the 
Cornstalk with these my Sentiments also as well as 
the Cheifs of the Mingoes and the other six Nations 
your Sincere freind and Elder Brother 

(Signed) Dunmore 



September 26^^ The Shawanese being Arrived tK 
Commissioners received them with Drum and Colours 
and a Salute of small Airms from the Garrison and 
having Conducted them to a Council House Erected 
for the Occasion after a Short Pause the Cornstalk 
spoke as follows 

Brothers of Virginia Listen to what I am going to 
say Captain McKee^ was many Years ago Placed by 



3 Alexander McKee was a native of Pennsylvania, who 
early began trading with the Indians on the Ohio, and by 1772 
was appointed deputy-agent under Sir William Johnson. In 
1771 he was justice of the peace for Bedford, later for West- 
moreland County. At the beginning of the Revolution he in- 
clined to the Royalist side, and was privately given a commis- 
sion by Dunmore as lieutenant-colonel of a battalion to be 
raised near Fort Pitt. This enhstment was never accom- 
plished, and he contrived to quiet the suspicions of the patriot 
party so that under parole he was allowed his liberty. In 
August, 1777, he was confined at Pittsburgh for a brief time, 
and an effort was made to remove him to an Eastern post 
This he adroitly evaded, and March 28, 1778, left for Detroit 
accompanied by Matthew Elliot and Simon Girty. The Eng- 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 75 

our Wise People at this Council fire to have the Care 
of it and all our Young people look on him in that 
light we desire he will still have an Ear to our Mu- 
tual Interest as we think he ought to have as great a 
regard for ours as yours and hope he will have an 
Ear Open to Each of us A String of Wampum 

The Cornstalk after Observing that the Gentlemen 
from Congress were not present said It Appears to 
me that you are not all as one person as I Expected 
to find you 

Col^ Lewis then Spoke as follows Brothers agree- 
able to Appointment we came here Sixteen days ago 
we have been Impatiently Expecting you and are 
rejoiced you are now come we have rekindled a 
Council fire at this place we now take you by the 
hand and heartily welcome you to it we hope our 
Meetings in future will be so Frequent that this Coun- 
cil fire will not be Suffered to go out as we have 
been so long detained here and have much also to do 
we hope you will as soon as you are rested from the 
Fatigues of your Journey Proceed to Business and 
in the Mean time furnish us with all the Intelligence 
you can respecting the Approach of the Other Tribes 

lish authorities made him captain in the Indian department, 
and after 1778, deputy agent. He had large pay and consid- 
erable honor and authority, and led several expeditions 
against the American frontier. After the Revolution he be- 
came a colonel, and was accused of continuing to incite the 
tribesmen against the borderers. Certain it is, that he en- 
couraged the forces against Wayne, and that the battle of 
Fallen Timbers (1794) was fought within sight of his house 
and store on the Maumee. After the evacuation of Detroit 
by the British (1796), McKee removed to Maiden, Ont, 
where he died Jan. 14, I799. of lockjaw.— Ed. 



ye REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

from your Quarter We have the same respect for 
Captain McKee you have he has still the Care of this 
Council fire as will be hereafter Explained to you you 
will find we are more United and one People than 
ever A String 

The Cornstalk then Informed the Commissioners 
that he thought the Delawares and Wiandots might be 
Expected to morrow Nimwha a Chief of the Shaw- 
anese then Addressed the irest of that Nation who 
were Present he told them they had now the Satis- 
faction of shaking hands with some of the Wise People 
of Virginia for which they ought to be very thank- 
ful 



At a Meeting of all the Commissioners for Indian 
Affairs as well as those from Congress as those from 
Virginia September 30th Resolved that all the 
Commissioners for Indian Affairs do meet all the In- 
dians of the Different Tribes in the Council House so 
soon as all the Nations Expected Arrive that a 
proper Speech be prepared to be delivered to them by 
Lewis Morris Esq^ which Speech is to Contain the 
Usual Ceremonies Observed at Treatys with Indians 
and then to refer them to the Commissioners of Vir- 
ginia to settle the Particular Business of their Depart- 
ment and that as soon as the same should be finished 
the Commissioners from the Continental Congress will 
Speak to them in the Name of the thirteen United Col- 
onies who they represent 

The Mingoes marched to the Council House with 
their Flag they Saluted a little before they Entered 




Lewis Morris 



After a photograph in the possession of his grandson. 
Wiilliam A. P. Morris, of Madison. Wis. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 77 

by firing their Guns which was returned by the Gar- 
rison when they were seated in the Council House 
The White Mingo spoke as follows Brothers There 
was a Small Council fire kindled here not long since 
by some of Virginia who are now here you sent a 
Speech up and down the River Informing all the Na- 
tions you Intended to kindle a large Council fire here 
at this time when all who would come shou'd be Wel- 
come some time after we received this Message from 
our Brothers the Big knife our Brother Onas* sent 
us a speech desiring us to Make haste we have 
Brother Onas and likewise our Brothers of the big- 
knife fast by the Hand fifty of us are come as we 
promised and now produce the Speech which you 
then sent to us 

Col^ Morris then Spoke as follows Brothers we 
are very Glad to see you when the Chiefs of the other 
Nations who we Expect Arrive we shall be glad to 
see you all at this great Council fire and will then 
Open to you the design of this Treaty in the Mean 
time you shall be x\mply Provided with Provisions to 
make your stay Agreeable and we will have such of 
your Guns and Tomhawks which are out of order 
repaired A String of Wampum 

Col^ Wilson'' then desired the White Mingo to de- 

* Big Knife was originally the Indian appelation for the 
people of Virginia, a term later used for the Americans as a 
whole. For its origin see Thwaites, Daniel Boone (New 
York, 1902), p. Ill, note. 

Onas was the Indian term for the governor of Pennsylvania, 
and was first applied in 1682 to William Penn. — Ed. 

^ James Wilson (1742-98), a prominent Pennsylvania states- 
man, was born and educated in Scotland. Coming to America 
he settled in Pennsylvania (1766), where he supported the 



78. REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

liver the Invitation speech sent by him to the Mingoes 
which he did and is also as follows Brothers Listen 
to what we are now to say to you A String Broth- 
ers a very large Council fire has been lately kindled 
at Philadelphia in the Country of your Brother Onas 
round this Council fire have sat Great Men sent to 
speak and Act for all the following Colonies Viz' New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Con- 
necticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania the 
Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Dela- 
ware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South 
Carolina and Georgia these Great Men have Con- 
sulted and deliberated Concerning a Controversy that 
has Arisen between the White People who live on this 
Island and some of the English who live on the other 
side the Great Water and they were induced by the 
Antient Hairmony and Freindship subsisting between 
the white People and you to Inform you of the Cause 
of this Quarrel and in what Manneir they wish to be- 
have they will advise you nothing but what will 
Contribute to your Peace and Advantage as well as 
thieir own they have Appointed a Treaty to be held 
with you and have directed that you shall receive some 
presents in their name in Order to Convince you of 
tbeir kindness for you and to Preserve Peace and 
freindship between the white People and you we who 



patriot cause, and was delegate to the second Continental 
Congress, By this body he was chosen commissioner to hold 
the Indian treaty at Fort Pitt. In 1776 he signed the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and held many important offices, includ- 
ing membership in the Federal constitutional convention 
(1787), and in the Pennsylvania convention (lySgrgo). Ap- 
pointed by Washington (1789) to the supreme court of the 
United States, he held that office until his death. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 79 

are three of the Counsellors round the Great Council 
fire at Philadelphia are Authorised to hold the Treaty 
with you in the name of all the Great Council you 
may beleive our Woirds in the same Manner as if they 
all spoke to you 

We have Chosen Pitsburg to be the Place and the 
10^^ day of next Month to be the time of holding the 
Treaty and give you this Notice expecting and Invit- 
ing the Cheif Counsellors and Warriours of your Na- 
tion at the Treaty that we may behold you face 
to face Let no false and Wicked Reports that may 
have been spread abroad Among you by those who are 
both Enemies to us and to you Prevent you from com- 
ing We and you Sprung from the same Ground and 
live together on the same Island we Ought to live to^ 
gether and have Confidence in Each Other we will 
not Deceive you that what we have now said to you 
may be Confirmed and that you may give heed to it 
we deliver to you by the hands of your and our freind 
and Brother the White Mingo this String A String 
as the two other Commissioners are not yet Arrived I 
on their behalf as well as in my own name Subscribe 
the foregoing Message 

(Signed) James Wilson 
at Pitsburgh the 25tli day of August 1775 



At a Meeting of the Commissioners for Indian Af- 
fairs as well those Appointed by Congress as those 
from Virginia 2* October One Thousand Seven Hun- 
dred and seventy five 

Captain White Eyes and the Delawares not being 



8o REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

yet Arrived the Commissioners Consulted the Cheifs 
of the Mingoes Wiandots Shawanese Tawaas, King 
Custaloga and Captain Pipe of the Delawares^ 
whether they should proceed to Business or to wait 
the Arrival of White Eyes and the other Delawares 
who all gave their Opinion that a Message shou'd be 
sent to Hasten them whereupon the Commissioner dis- 
patched Thomas Nicholson^ Interpreter with a Dela- 
ware Indian to meet them with the following speech 

Brothers the Delawares We have Anxiously waited 
your Arrival and hope we shall have the Pleasure to 
see you very soon as our Brethren the Six Nations 
Wiandots Ottawas and Shawanese with part of you[r] 
Nation are now here in Conference with them we 
have agreed to send one of out Young Men and one 
of yours to meet you and to request that you will 
come on as fast as Possible that we may begin our 
Business A String; 



6 Custaloga was a prominent chieftain of the Wolf clan of 
the Delawares. He removed early to the Ohio, participated 
in Pontiac's conspiracy, and in 1764 treated with Bouquet. In 
1773, Sir William Johnson informed the colonial secretary 
that Custaloga with one hundred of his followers had retired 
to the Wabash River. 

Captain Pipe was a war-chief who had been hostile during 
the French wars, and was an enemy to the peace party, as' 
well as to the missionaries settled among his tribe. He dis- 
sembled during the first part of the Revolution, but by 1778 
removed his village to the Sandusky, within the sphere of 
British influence, and was zealous in compassing the death of 
Capt. William Crawford (1782). He was present at the 
treaties of Fort Mcintosh (1785) and Fort Harmar (1789), 
but apparently died before that of Greenville (1795). — Ed. 

'' For a brief notice of this person see Dunmore's lVar„ 
p. 13, note 26. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 8l 

At a meeting of the Commissioners on the Part of 
Virginia the 7th day of October 1775 Present 
Thomas Walker James Wood Andrew Lewis John 
Walker Adam Stephen Comrs 

The Wiandots having never been condoled with 
Agreeable to their Custom since the last War for the 
loss of their freinds who fell in Battle the Commis- 
sioners sent for them into A Private room early this 
Morning and delivered to them the following speech 
of Condolence 

Brothers the Wiandots and Cheifs of the Cochana- 
wagas on Scioto^ you may remember when Lord 
Dunmore and youir Bretheren of Virginia Assembled 
the Nations of Indians at this place last year he Ac- 
quainted them he was obliged to March a body of Men 
into the Shawanese Country as he had a dispute with 
them and desired all other Nations would keep out of 
the way but some of your young Men were so foolish 
not to Listen to your Wisemen but wou'd join the 
other foolish People and Accidentally got killed we 
now take the Tomahawk out of your hands and As- 
sure you it was not our Intention to strike youir Na- 
tion and bury it deep in the Ground that no Uneasi- 
ness or remembrance of it may Enter into your Minds 
that your hearts may be at rest while you sit at our 
Grand Council fire with these few sfoods we Cover 



^ Caughnawaga was a mission Indian village — chiefly of 
converted Mohawks — on the south side of the St. Lawrence, 
just above Montreal. The Indians of this and similar mis- 
sion villages were frequently utilized by the French in war- 
parties. After the overthrow of the French power, many of 
these Indians removed west and settled among their kindred 
tribesmen. — Ed. 
6 



82 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

the Graves of these Unhappy young Men which fell in 
Battle and desire that it may never more be remem- 
bered A String to Each Nation 

The following Goods were given as a present of 
Condolence (Viz') two Bundles Each Containing as 
follows one for the Wiandots and the others for the 
Cochanawagas 4 Black Strouds 4 Ruffled Shirts 4 
pair of Leggins 4 Matchcoats 1 Blanket one half 
to be tied up and directed to Cochanawaga the other 
to be delivered to the Wiandot Cheif 



At a Meeting of all the Commissioners for Indian 
Affairs October 7th 1775 Present Lewis Morris 
James Wilson Thomas Walker James Wood Andrew 
Lewis John Walker Adam Stephen Com^^ 

Captain White Eyes and the Delawaires being Ar- 
rived and the Cheifs of the Wiandots Six Nations 
Delawares Shawanese and Tawaas being Assembled 
in the Council House Col^ Morris delivered the fol- 
lowing speech to them To the Six Nations Wiandots 
Delawares Shawanese and Ottawas Cheif Warriors 
and Brothers It gives us Joy to see you now meet 
together at the Invitation of all your English Bretheren 
who live on this Continent and who have Appointed 
a Great Council to be held in the great City of your 
Brother Onas that being the most Convenient place 
in the United Colonies It is from that Council we 
are sent to renew and more perfectly Establish the 
Antient Freindship that has Subsisted between you 
and us we therefore Bretheren bid you Welcome to 
this Council fire and with these strings we wipe the 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 83 

Dust and Sweat Occasioned by the Fatigues of your 
Journey we likewise wipe off from your Memories 
and Clear your Ears from any Wicked reports which 
may have Tended to Interrupt you and our peace and 
the peace of our Wives and Childeren that you may 
Plainly hear and Understand what we say to you A 
String to Each Nation 

Bretheren with these strings we dry up your Tears 
for the Loss of your Freinds who have died since 
your last assembly at this Place we remove all Greif 
from your hearts on this Account that your minds 
may be at ease whilst we deliver our Embassy to you 
from our great United Council of Wise men now As- 
sembled at Philadelphia which we hope you will hear 
with as much pleasure as we shall deliver it and we 
Collect the Bones of your Deceased freinds and Bury 
them deep in the Earth and Transplant the Tree of 
Peace over them that our Freindship may not be In- 
terrupted nor our Minds disturbed at the Sight of 
them A Large String to Each Nation with these 
strings we Clear our Council House and desire no 
discontent may be allowed to Enter therein but that 
we may Consult together with Honest Hearts for 
your and our Mutual Peace and Happiness A String 
to Each Nation 

Bretheren as our people of Virginia first proposed 
Meeting you here and Called you together on Busi- 
ness which relates more Particularly to them though 
we are all Interested in it as we are one people and 
one flesh and Blood we shall say no more to you at 
this time until! you finish that Particular Business 
with them which we hope the good Spirit will put it 



84 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

into their and your hearts to do in the Most Freindly 
Manner as Bretheren who wish to live in Love and 
Peace ought to do It is however Necessary to In- 
form you that what we may now say is from all the 
Wisemen of all our United Colonies who are as one 
Man and that Virginia is one of them and as the 
right Arm so that you must not beleive those who tell 
you that the Virginians are a Distinct People The 
Country of your Brother Onas is also one of the 
thirteen United Colonies and it is in his great Town 
where the Wisemen from Virginia and all the other 
Provinces now sat in our Grand Council therefore 
Bretheren we desire you to pay Attention to what we 
have said the day after tomorrow we will be ready 
to heair your Answer and then our Bretheren from Vir- 
ginia will Open to you their Particular Business 
v/hen you and they have finished we who represent 
not only the Colony of Virginia and Pennsylvania but 
all the other Colonies as already Mentioned and are 
sent from their Grand Council now siting will speak 
to you again and we hope that not only you and we 
but your and our Childeren and their Childerens 
Children will hear of and remember this our Meet- 
ing with Pleasure and that they will Distinguish it 
by the Name of the Blessed Council of Peace A 
Belt to Each Nation 

Captain White Eyes addressed himself to the In- 
dians in the following Words Brothers you have 
now heard what your Brothers the White People have 
said to you It Ought to give you great Pleasure and 
I beg you will be Strong and meet them at the time 
they direct he then delivered the following Speech 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 85 

to the Commissioners My Dear Brothers On Mon- 
day Morning we will meet you again with our Ans- 
wer we will then let you know who are the People 
Pitched upon to Negotiate with you we beg you will 
be strong and be Punctual to your Appointment we 
wish some Method cou'd be taken to prevent rum be- 
ing given to our People that has been the sole Cause 
of this Meeting not being fuller Unless this is Al- 
tered it will Greatly impede our Business 



At a Meeting of all the Commissioners for Indian 
Affairs 9^1^ October 1775 The Cheifs of the Differ- 
ent Tribes of Indians having Assembled agreeable to 
the Appointment of Saturday Captain White Eyes 
spoke to the Indians as follows Uncles the Six Na- 
tions and Wiandots our Grand Children the Ottawas 
and Shazvanese The time we purposed to speak to 
our Brothers the White people is Elapsed it is Ow- 
ing to a Misunderstanding which happened this Morn- 
ing among ourselves our Uncles the Six Nations 
propose Speaking in the Morning I shall now speak 
on Behalf of the Wiandots the Shawanese the Tawaas 
and my own Nation ' he then Addressed the Commis- 
sioners in the following words Brothers we are 
much obliged to you that as soon as we Appeared you 
wiped the Sweat from us so that we were Quite re- 
freshed you wiped the Tears from our Eyes and re- 
moved all bad Impressions from our hearts so that 
we are Quite at Ease you have also told us that you 
have gathered all the Bones of our Deceased relations 
and Buried them deep in the Ground and planted a 



86 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

tree upon them that our Children or foolish young 
People may never see them to their Disquiet In the 
name of our Uncles the Wiandots our Grand Children 
the Shawanese and Tawaas and our own Nation I 
Acquaint you we are much rejoiced and return you 
our Sincere thanks A String 

Brothers Listen to me I now Inform you that we 
are Extreemely rejoiced at what we heard the day 
before Yesterday from you and that all the White 
People Account themselves as one Body and that Vir- 
ginia is not alone for the future when we look on 
you we shall Esteem you all one People our reason 
Brothers why we say we were very much rejoiced to 
hear you are United is Vv^hen our Brothers the White 
People first came upon this Island I thought they and 
us shou'd be the only people who shou'd live on it 
we made room for you to set down by Us Accordingly 

Brothers I have now Acquainted you w^hat we 
thought when you first Arrived on this Land I now 
think our Treatment to you then is the Cause of the 
King over the Big Water Striking you at this time I 
therefore desire you not to think much of it but think 
good untill we hear from him I now also Acquaint 
you that my Uncles the Wiandots have bound them- 
selves the Shawanese Tawaas and Delawares together 
and have made us as one People and have also given 
me that Tract of Country Beginning at the Mouth of 
Big Beaver Creek and running up the same to where 
it interlocks with the Branches of Cuyahoga Creek 
and down the said Creek to the Mouth thereof where 
it empties into the -Lake along the Side of the Lake 
to the Mouth of Sanduskey Creek and up the same 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 87 

to the head untill it interlocks with Muskingum down 
the same to the Mouth where it Empties into the Ohio 
and up the said River to the Place of Beginning® 
I also now Acquaint my Uncles the Six Nations 
that my Uncles the Wiandots have given me that 
Tract of Country as we have now Acquainted you 
what Lands belongs to us I desire you will not Per- 
mit any of your foolish People to sit down upon it 
that I cannot suffer it least other Nations shou'd be 
Uneasy. ^° A Belt of Wampum 

Brother I am Extreemly rejoiced to hear what 
you said to me the day before Yesterday and also to 
hear you call upon God to witness and Assist us 
in future meetings to talk of the Freindship which 
is between us and the reason of my being rejoiced is 
that we are poor and Ignorant and know but little 
of Gods Wisdom but you have him in your heart 
and are more capable of Judging than we can be 
and as you have made Mention of that heavenly 
freindship which proceeds from God I am very much 
pleased and take hold of it and the ireason of my be- 
ing so ready and willing to take hold of it is that 
our wise forefathers began the Blessed Work I also 



® White Eyes is speaking for his entire tribe, but in Indian 
parlance the singular pronoun is generally used. He has here 
defined the limits of Delaware territory. — Ed. 

^^ This no doubt is the speech to which Heckewelder refers 
in Narrative of the Mission of the United Brethren 
among the Delaware and Mohegan Indians (Phila., 1820), pp. 
140, 141, when he says that White Eyes defied the Six Nations 
and made the most bold and daring address ever made in an 
Indian council by an individual chief. The Iroquois had con- 
sidered the Delawares as their subject people. White Eyes, 
thinking that the latter would join the British, took the op- 
portunity to assert the Delawares' independence. — Ed, 



SS REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

inform you that I am Extreamly rejoiced and think 
it was God Almighty that has put it into your hearts 
to offer us this and that you did not despise us the 
poor and Ignorant A Belt 

I now Brother Assure you I am very Much re- 
joiced you offer me your hand to take hold of I 
Gladly Accept it and shall not let it fall to the 
Ground and I hope God Almighty will Endow me 
with Wisdom to treasure it up in my heart as my 
Brothers 'the English do we now desire you Broth- 
ers tO' be strong and finish the Business we are come 
about that we may be able to Inform the other Na- 
tions what we have been about and when we have 
finished 'this good Work there will never be any Oc- 
casion of Difference between our Childeren and your 
Childeren but that they will have reason to ' remem- 
ber it and call it the Blessed Council 'of Peace A 
Belt 

Brothers I am very much rejoiced that you Ac- 
quainted me it was a long time since we had met and 
as some of ' our great Men might have died desired 
we would inform you who Acted in their Place we 
now inform you that there are three tribes of us" 
Kalalamint Walapachakin and Ohokon or Capn Pipe 
are the Cheifs Appointed for the Delaware Nation 
A Belt 

Brothers Listen to your young Sisters the Dela- 
wares Women we are very Much rejoiced to hear 



1^ Referring to the three clans of the tribe, whose totems 
were respectively the turtle, wolf, and bear. The first of 
these was accorded the headship of the tribe; the last named 
were usually called Munsee (Munceys). — Ed, 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 89 

you and our Children renewing the keindship be- 
tween you and them this is what your Sisters have 
said to you and our paying Attention to them is the 
reason why vv^e did not go to War with any Nation 
whatsoever as God Almighty did not Create us to 
War with one Another we now also desire you will 
Acquaint your Mothers our Elder Sisters the White 
Women what we have said and when any of our Chil- 
dren shall be born in future we will point to heaven 
and tell them these onr sentiments. A Belt from the 
Women 

Col^ Morris then Answered Brothers we are 
obliged to you for your Speech we are well pleased 
with it tomorrow v/e Expect to hear the Six Na- 
tions 

The Tawaas Cheif Shaganaba^- Addressed the 
Commissioners in the following Words Fathers I 
thank you that you have Wiped the Tears from my 
Eyes the Sweat from my body and thoroughly 
cleansed me I was at fiirst Unwilling I Acknowledge 
to come to this Treaty from evil reports I had heard 
and which I have now found to be falsehoods my 
father and many other Cheifs have lately Tasted of 
Death Accept my hearty thanks for your kind Con- 
dolence on that Occasion I Present you my right 
hand in token that I rejoice to see you United nore 
shall my Children be Untold of it Accept this 
String of Wampum as a Pledge of my Sincerity and 
Freindship my Fathers knew you but Unhappily are 
no more I have now found the road to your Hospi- 



^2 Shaganaba was the son of the renowned Ottawa chief 
Pontiac. — Ed. 



go REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

table Mansions nor shall it be Untrodden by my 
People in the future ^^ A String 



At a Meeting of the Commissoners for Indain Af- 
fairs as well those from Congress as those from Vir- 
ginia October 10*^ 1775 Present Lewis Morris 
Thomas Walker James Wilson James Wood Andrew 
Lewis John Walker Adam Stephen Coma's 

The Indians of the Different Tribes being Arrived 
at the Council House at 13 ^Clock Chau Chau Chau 
sadea Or the Flying Crow a Cheif of the Six Na- 
tions Addressed the Commissioners in the following 
words Brothers Listen you have wiped the Sweat 
from our Bodies and Cleared our Hearts and throats 
that we heard your good speeches with pleasure and 
have us now fast by the hand we now Clear your 
heairts that you may hear us with Attention and Pro- 
ceed with your good Speeches to which we will be 
very Attentive A String 

Brothers Onas, listen to me likewise my brothers 
the big knife Listen to me we received a Speech 
from each of you Inviting us to this Council fire as 
soon as they reached us we rose up to come you 
there told us you wou'd hs glad from your heairts 
to see us at this time we are glad in our hearts to 
meet you the Great Men from Onas and Virginia 
and Esteem you as Much as if all the Great Men 



13 Another and more eloquent version of this speech is given 
in Amer. Archives, 4th series, iii, p. 1542. It is also to be 
found in Draper MSS., 3D, chap, xiii, where it is given as a 
specimen of Indian eloquence. — Ed, 




James Wilson 

After an engraving in the possession of the Wisconsin 
Historical Society 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 91 

from the Sea side who sent you were Present A 
String 

Brothers Onas and Brothers the big knife Listen 
to me I have first spoke what is Customary on such 
Occasions you have desired us to Speak our Sen- 
timents I have nothing to say at Present I came 
to Listen to what You have to say to us and hope 
you will say Nothing but what is good and from your 
Hearts that all my Brothers present may heat you 
and rejoice when I have heard you I will Consider 
and give you an Answer A String 

The Half King of the Wiandots^* then Spoke 
Brothers of the Big knife Listen to me when I 
received the Message sent me by my Brothers the big 
knife our Cheif s were Just returned from a Council 
held at the House of Sir William Johnston they 
were very much Fatigued and sent word to my 
People on this side the Lake to Accept the Invita- 
tion and to go to the Council and Listen which is 
the reason you now see us here What I have heard 
I like very well and I shall Attend to what more you 
have to say and our Cheifs will I hope when we re- 
turn be very well Pleased with it Likewise I hope 
God Almighty will Allow us to return to Our Own 
Nation in Safety A Black String 

Brother the Bigknife I am glad to hear what you 

1* The Half-King was an important Wyandot chief, head 
of the Sandusky branch of the tribe, his village being at 
Upper Sandusky. In 1777 he declared against the Americans, 
and headed the raid that defeated Foreman, as well as that 
which assailed Fort Randolph in 1778. He was also promi- 
nent in the defeat of Crawford in 1782. He appears to have 
died before Wayne's treaty in 1795. — Ed. 



92 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

have said to us to our Nephews the Delawares to our 
Young Brothers the Shawanese and Tawaas and to our 
Elder Bretheren the Six Nations I am also rejoiced 
that on our Arrival you wiped the Sweat from us 
you dried up our Tears that you set our hearts at 
Ease and that you Cleared our Ears that we might 
hear the good things you have to say to us I make 
no doubt our Cheifs who sent us here will be Equally 
rejoiced at our reception when they are Informed of 
it on our (return ^^ A Black String 

The Cornstalk a Shawanese Cheif came forward to 
the Council Board and Addressed the Commission- 
ers as follows Brothers I imagined all Matters 
were settled last fall and that we were as one People 
I now find that there is a bad Wind Blown up I 
know not from whence it has Arisen but I desire 
the White People will search into it I hope they 
will not let tliat Interrupt the Good work we are now 
about. If we are Strong and finish the good work 
we have began our Children now Growing up will 
live in peace but if we regard what wicked or fool- 
ish People do it may be an Impediment to our live- 
ing in Freindship when we received the Message 
from our Brothers the Bigknife and the other Colon- 
ies we Immediately set off with a good heart to meet 
them determined to think of Nothing bad that Passed 
Expecting the Good things our King had sent Us 
to hear at this Meeting wou'd be the Means of our 



^^ John Dodge, who at the request of Wood accompanied 
the Wyandot, reports to the following effect : that upon their 
return to Sandusky they found their tribesmen preparing for 
war, which the account of their deputies quieted. — Almon's Re~ 
memhrancer, viii, pp. y^, 74. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 93 

Children enjoying a lasting Peace at the Conclusion 
of the War with Lord Dunmore last fall we Mutu- 
ally Bromised if any thing shou'd happen bad on 
Either side to Inform Each other of it I now 
Brothers Inform you that some of my foolish Young 
Men have Burned Several Houses at the Mouth of 
the big Kanhawa they were Pursued by the White 
People and came home quite Naked having Lost their 
Cloaths Blankets &^ It happened about ten or 12 
days ago; To morrow I will send off two of my 
Young Men to direct my People to sit still and do 
no mischeif while we are doing Business I will like- 
wise Inform the Wiandots and Tawaas and hope you 
will send tO' your young people and direct them to 
do ours no harm untill this Business is finished I In- 
tended last Night to have sent off my Young Men 
this Morning but Considering the Weather is Cold 
I detained them this day to see if our Brothers wou'd 
not take Pity on them and give them something to 
Cloath them and Provisions for theiir Journey when 
the Messenger who brought me this Account came 
off the Cheifs were getting some of the White People 
who were at the Towns to write and a Man to bring 
it up we Expect therefore that you will have a writ- 
ten Account in a day or two A String 

Cop Morris then spoke to the Different Nations 
of Indians as follows Brothers we are well Pleased 
with your Speeches of Yesterday and to day and 
thank you for them and will withdraw till our 
Brothers the Virginians have finished their Particu- 
lar Business with you we are Very Glad to see you 
so desirous of taking fast hold of the Chain of 



94 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Freindship and hope the Great and Good Spirit will 
Preside among you and Guide you to your Mutual 
Satisfaction 

The Gentlemen from the Congress then withdrew 
and the Commissioners from Virginia Opened their 
Business with the following Speech delivered by 
John Walker To the Mingo es Wiandots Delawares 
Shawanese and Tawaas Freinds and Bretheren we 
are sent here by the Grand Council of our Country, 
the big knife, to take you by the hand and Welcome 
you to this Council fire, to which we have Invited 
all the Ohio Indians and other Neighbouring Na- 
tions : you have Accepted the Invitation and we are 
heartily Glad to see you, this Council we hope, will 
be called the Blessed Council of Peace, and the Fame 
of it handed Down thro' all Generations A String 
to Each Nation 

Brothers having now met in Council agreeable to 
the Appointment of our respective Nations, we do 
with this belt remove from our Roads all Obstruc- 
tions, that both your and our People may have free 
and Easy Access, and we hope they will be so 
Troden by our Mutual Freindly Visits, that they will 
be forever kept open A Road Belt 

Brothers we do with this Belt Brighten the Chain 
of Freindship between us, with it we rub off any 
Rust it may have Contracted, and desire you may 
Continue to hold fast by one End of it, so long as 
the Clouds shall Produce Rain, or the Eairth Com 
on our part you may depend it will never be let gt>, 
unless you wrest it out of our hands, by Commenc- 
ing Hostilities against us; in which Case you must 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 95 

know, that you will be but as one Child fighting 
against its family of an Hundred The Chain Belt 

Brothers we wish to Cultivate so strict a Freind- 
ship with you as that your Enemies shou'd be Con- 
sidered as ouirs, and our Enemies as yours ; However, 
as we are able to fight our Own Battles we only re- 
quest of you (as you love us, and regard your Own 
Welfare) to Continue in Peace and Suffer the Tom- 
'hawk which is so deep Buried to lie Still and the 
Tree which is Planted thereon to grow and flourish in 
such Manner, that both your and our Childrens Chil- 
dren, may reap the fruits of it. 

Brothers you have no doubt heard of the dispute 
between us and some of our Fathers evil Counsel- 
lors beyond the Great Water,^® in this dispute your 
Interest is Involved with ours so far as this, that in 
Case those People with whom we are Contending 
shou'd Subdue us, your Lands your Trade your Lib- 
erty and all that is dear to you must fall with us, 
for if they wou'd Distroy our flesh and Spill our 
Blood which is the same with theirs; what can you 
who are no way related to or Connected with them 
Expect? and further, Suppose you were Inclined 
to Join our Enemies, how Cou'd you Act in Conjunc- 
tion with them? they Cannot Pass through us tc 
your Country Neither cou'd you get to them. Not- 
withstanding all this, we only ask of you to Stay at 



^® See the allegory by which the dispute was explained to 
the tribesmen under the figure of a cruel father's treatment 
of his little son, in Heckewelder's Narrative, pp. 137-140. See 
also Amer. Archives, 4th series, iii, pp. 482, 483.— Ed, 



96 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

home, to take Care of your Women and Children, 
and follow other Usual Occupations: we aire not 
Affraid these People will Conquer us, they Can't 
fight in our Country, and you Know we Can; we 
fear not them, nor any Power on Earth 

Brothers the thirteen great Colonies of this Ex- 
tensive Continent, Comprehending in the whole, at 
least One Million of Fighting Men, aire now so 
firmly United and Inseparably bound together by one 
lasting Chain of Freindship, that we are nO' more to 
be Considered as Distinct Nations, but as one great 
and Strong Man, who if Molested in any one of his 
Members, will not fail to Exert the Combined force 
of his whole Body to Punish the Offender, we have 
already sent some of our Men to Assist our Breth- 
eren at Boston, and so far as the Contest has been 
hitherto Carried on we have Proved Successful our 
Enemies are Confined to their Ships and entrench- 
ments and we Expect will Shortly be Almost all 
Starved or Slain and that the few who shall Escape 
from famine and Sword will be forced to fly to their 
own Country for Shelter 

Brothers we can with Pleasure Inform you that 
several Indian Nations in the North have Offered 
to take up the Tomhawk in our favor, that the 
People in Canada except a few of Governor Carl- 
tons ^^ Fools are friendly towards us, that they have 



1^ Guy Carleton (1724-1808), an eminent English soldier, 
was at this time governor of Canada. He resigned upon Bur- 
goyne's appointment, and was replaced (1778) by Haldimand. 
In 1782, Carleton was made commander-in-chief for British 
America, his poHcy being one of clemency and conciliation. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 



97 



absolutely refused, when Ordered by him, to Strike 
us, and that it is not Improbable they will in a Short 
time deliver him a Prisoner into our Hands. 

Brothers If any other Nation or Nations shou'd 
take up the Tomhawk and Endeavour to Strike us it 
wou'd be Kind in you to give us Notice and Use 
your best Endeavours to Prevent the Stroke, for it 
must be your Interest to live in Peace and Amity 
with such near and PowerfuU Neighbours and this is 
all we Ask A String to Each Nation 

Brothers the Mingoes we desire to- bury in Ob- 
livion all that has past, and brighten the Chain of 
Freindship with you whatever happened to some of 
your Young people last fall, was Owing to their 
disregarding the Wise Councils of the Six Nations; 
we hope the good Advice they will receive from you, 
and them, will Prevent any Mischief in future A 
String 

Brothers the Wiandots we have had good Ac- 
counts of you from our people who have been 
Among you they tell us you are a good and sensi- 
ble Nation we desire you will give Ear to no Idle 
reports you may hear from the Commanding Officer 
at Fort Detroit who will Endeavour to deceive you 
we have already discovered Many of their Fals- 
hoods we desire to live in Peace with you, and 
hope you will Acquaint your Neighbouring Nations 
with what we have said A String 



Returning to England in 1783 he again came out to Canada in 
1786 as governor, this time under the title of Lord Dorchester. 
After retaining the office for ten years, he retired from public 
life.— Ed. 

7 



98 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Brothers the Delawares we Esteem you a Wise 
people for not engaging in tlie War last Summer 
and you may depend upon our freindship agreeable 
to Lord Dunmores Promise A String 

Brothers the Shawanese we have returned you 
your Hostages safe and Trust they can say nothing 
but good of us It is our Earnest desire to live in 
Peace with you, shou'd any of our People Molest 
you, we will Endeavour to bring them to Justice and 
shou'd any of yours Molest us we Expect you will 
Punish them A String 

Brothers the Tawaas we are exceedingly rejoiced 
to see you here we have heard much of your Kind- 
ness and Hospitality Especially of your freindship to 
young Feild who was delivered you by the Shaw- 
anese, he is well and has a Gratefull Rememberance 
of your Favors. One Act of Humanity does a Na- 
tion more Grace in the sight both of God and Man, 
than an hundred Cruelties, your Behaviour to young 
Feild will indear you to all the White People, now 
you have found the Way to this Council fire, we hope 
we shall often meet at it to brighten the Chain of 
Friendship between us we desire you will Listen to 
no evil reports of our Mutual Enemies, shou'd you 
hear of any Mischeif Intended us you will do well 
to Inform us and do all in your Power to Prevent 
it, and we desire you will Acquaint your Neighbour- 
ing Nations of what we have said to you A String 

To the whole Nations Present we have reason to 
Beleive great Uneasinesses and Jealousies have Pre- 
vailed Amongst you respecting our Intention of mak- 
ing Encroachments on your Lands we take this Op- 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 99 

portunity of Assuring you that we have not the most 
Distant thought of Possessing any part of your Lands 
you must all be sensible that the Lands on this side 
Ohio as fair down as the C[h]erokee River^^ was Pur- 
chased at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix by Sir Will- 
iam Johnston ^^ for the King of England who has 
since sold it to his Childeren on this Continent and 
which they now Expect to Enjoy in Peace A Belt 

Brothers we Expect you have brought with you 
and are read}^ to Deliver up all our Flesh and Blood 
our Negroes and all that belongs to us and that you 
are prepared to- make restitution for all Damages 
agreeable to the Terms Stipulated between you and 
Lord Dunmore last Fall A String 

The Flying Crow then Replied Brother the Big- 
knife It gives me great Satisfaction to hear what 
you have said, it puts me in mind of our wise fore- 
fathers Beleive me when I assure you it has sunk 
deep into my heart I firmly beleive every thing you 
have said to me and will duly Consider it as its 
Consequence deserves and will then give you my 
Answer to it you may depend the Six Nations will 
be strong in Peace and we hope the Other Nations 
will be the same 

White Eyes then Addressed the Commissioners 
and the Different Tribes of the Indians in the fol- 
lowing Manner Uncles the Six Nations And Grand 
Children the Shawanese and Tawaas I am much re- 



!• The Tennessee was frequently known as Cherokee River, 
because tHat tribe dwelt upon its upper waters. — Ed. 

1® Sir William Johnson, for many years superintendent of 
Indian affairs, held this important treaty at Fort Stanwix in 
1768, and died in 1774. — Ed. 



lOO REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

joiced at what I have heard from our brother the 
bigknife 

Brothers the bigknife} I am extremely rejoiced to 
hear the many good things you have said to me as my 
Heart Desires nothing but what is good I lay hold on 
the least Appearance of it Uncles the Six Nations and 
IViandots and all who are here present I hope we 
shall be able to finish the Good work we are now 
about so Effectually that our Children and our Chil- 
drens Children shall be able to live in peace from 
it and as soon as all my Bretheren have fully Con- 
sidered of what you now have said to us we Will 
return an Answer 

Corn Stalk then Spoke as follows Brothers the Big- 
knife as you have desired we shou'd deliver you 
your flesh and Blood and your Negroes we will give 
you an Answer to morrow respecting that Matter 



At a Conference Continued and held with the 
Shawanese on the 11*^ October 1775 Present 
Thomas Walker, Andrew Lewis, James Wood John 
Walker Adam Stephen Commrs 

The Cornstalk addressed the Commissioners My 
Old Brothers the Bigknife In our Councils last fall 
when we were settling every thing we made our- 
selves one Body and Promised to Each Other at the 
same time that if any Mischeif shou'd happen through 
the inadvertency of foolish Young People that we 
wou'd not keep it a Secreet from one another but Se- 
riously Consider and have it rectified when I left 
home I Assembled my Young Men and told them 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS loi 

I was going tO' Treat with my Bretheren the Eng- 
lish and if any fooHsh People shou'd spread any bad 
reports not to listen to it as I had nothing in my 
heart but what was good we had not forgot where 
the Mischeif a rose from the foolish People who are 
endeavouring to Overset our Freindship I will now 
Inform you that Just before our Young Men left our 
Towns twenty Wiandots and Tawaas came there and 
desired their Brothers the Shawanese to Listen to 
what they had to say which was this Brothers I 
now desire you to make yourselves ready and to se- 
cure your Provisions for it will not be long before 
a Body of the White People will Strike you they 
have already divided your Nation by calling one half 
of you to a Treaty at Pitsburg where they Informed 
you that they had good to say to you but it was only 
to deceive you they desired the Warriors to get their 
Mocoasins ready and to go and Watch the Mouths of 
Muskingum, Hockhockin the big Kanhawa and Ken- 
tucke for there wou'd be a great number of the Vir- 
ginia Warriors to strike them the King of the Wi- 
andots and wise men who live at Detroit sent them on 
a very different Errand they told these Twenty 
Wiandots and Tawaas to go to their Young brothers 
the Shawanese and as they were Unsetled On Ac- 
count of the Disputes between their Elder Brothers 
of Virginia and them they had sent them to Kindle 
their Council fire Anew and to gather the Bones of 
their Dead who fell in the War and to Bury them 
and remove all Grief from their Hearts that they 
might sit in Peace and Quietness this is what they 
were sent for and not to spread bad reports when 



I02 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

the Tawaas and Wiandots came to Pluggies Town 
the Mingoes Cheif Called the Stone and another Cheif 
called the Black Wolf Invited them to a Council and 
there put these evil Stories in their heads and made 
them forget the good things their Cheifs had charged 
them with their telling these foolish things to my 
young Men made them go and do harm to my broth- 
ers the English unknown to' our Chief Kisquaquawha 
[who] was sick or he would have Prevented them 
I also Inform you that two of the Wiandots and 
Pluggies son one of the Six Nations with two of our 
foolish Young Men who they Persuaded to go with 
them Pretending they did not know the road are 
gone to the Mouth of Kentucke to look at the white 
People no doubt their taking our Young Men was to 
throw the blame on our Nation ^^ to which CoP 
Lewis replied Brothers The Natural Consequence 
of what had happened will be that the white People 
will go into the Fort at which you need not be 
Alarmed we will send to desire our People to keep 
their Own side of the River and to dO' you no harm 
and would recommend it to you to send to your 
People tO' do' the same The Cornstalk Answered 
This is our Intention 

Brothers we have now Informed you what we 
have heard and your seeing a Number of us here 
both Men and Women may convince you we had no 
such thousfhts in our Hearts when we left our Towns 



20 On Dec. 23, just outside of Boonesborough, this party- 
fired upon Col. Arthur Campbell and two lads named Sanders 
and McQuinney. The former escaped, the latter was killed, 
and Sanders was never again heard from. See Draper MSS., 
4B55.— Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 103 

Whatever has happened is Owing to the Advice of 
bad People vvlio no doubt Envy us as they see us 
and our Elder Brothers the Big knife as one People 
If it had been known to the Wise People of your 
young Brothers the Shawanese they would have Pre- 
vented it The Cheif who we left to take Care of 
our Young People was sick and knew Nothing of 
their going we Acquainted you we were going to send 
two of our Young Men to our Towns I shall send 
my own son Allanawissica and Kataawa with Speeches 
to my Nation as the Weather is grown cold they 
hope you will give them some Cloathes and Pro- 
visions for their Journey 

Brothers listen to me when we held a Council 
last Fall you desired us to deliver up your Flesh and 
Blood your Negroes your Horses and every thing 
that belonged to you our Brother Col^ Stephen 
was here and remembers every thing that Passed as 
soon as we heard it we Immediately Complied and 
Delivered you up all your flesh and Blood your Ne- 
groes and Horses and all that belonged tO' you not 
only at that time but when they were Demanded 
twice before in the Winter I received a Message 
frrom the Commanding Officer at the Kanhawa my 
father the whitefish and myself went through the 
Towns hunted up the Horses and Delivered him 
eight when the Governor Demanded our Relations 
the White People he told us he only wanted them to 
go and see their relations and they should be at lib- 
erty if they did not like to stay with the white People 
to return to us when we brought them among us 
they were then Subservient to our Commands but when 



I04 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

we had delivered them up to the White People and 
they returned of their Own Accord they were as free 
as ourselves and no longer under our Controul when 
I went home I Informed them that some of their 
white relations were desirous of seeing them and told 
them to go and see their Relations they began to 
Cry and said they were not Slaves that they shou'd 
be forced away for they had it in their own Choice 
where they would stay last spring when some of the 
Cherokees robbed your People on the Kentucke we 
Immediately set off took two of the Horses from them 
and delivered them at the Mouth of Kanhawa and 
when the Negro Woman made her Escape from that 
Place and Came to our Towns on her being De- 
manded we delivered her when we did this Captain 
Russell said he was a little Sorry to Ask so much 
but that the Owner insisted upon having the two 
Children brought in that he thought it was toO' much 
as they had been all Winter Delivering Horses and 
Performing every Promise they had made in the Win- 
ter Captain Russell sent five of his Men to our 
Towns we Delivered the Negro Wench but told him 
as the Children were Bagat by our People we thought 
it very hard they shou'd be made Slaves of as the 
Negro Woman is delivered up she will soon have 
more Children at the same time they Demanded 
Horses from us we Informed them we had delivered 
up all the Horses we had belonging to the White 
People and that Many of our People had delivered 
up their own Horses in leiu of yours which cou'd not 
be found we likewise told them that ours was not 
the only Nation who had stolen their Horses I now 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 105 

Inform you we have Delivered up all your Horses and 
all your Negroes Except One Negro Man who run- 
away from the Mouth of Hockhockan Who threatens 
to kill either White Man or Indian who shall Attempt 
to Molest him 

Brothers I now Inform you we have delivered up 
all we possibly can and as we are one People I hope 
you will not Ask more of us what white People re- 
main among us are their own Masters and may do as 
they Please the Young white Man who is here has 
been to see his Relations if he Chooses to stay with 
them we have no Objection if he Chooses to return 
we Cannot Prevent him we will endeavour to Per- 
suade him to Either but let his own Choice direct 
him 'tis true our Manner of living is not like the 
white Peoples we suppose that is the reason why their 
freinds are Unwilling they shou'd live Among us 

Brothers we now Inform you if any of your flesh 
and Blood Choose to return to their relations or if any 
of theiir freinds come to our Country for them we shall 
never Attempt to Hinder them and as you Yesterday 
Cleared the Road of all Obstructions between you and 
us It will be the Means of making our freindship more 
fiirm and Lasting A String 



At a Conference Continiied and held at Pitsburg 
with the Different Nations of Indians 12*^ October 
1775 Present Thomas Walker Andrew Lewis James 
Wood Adami Stephen Comm^^ 

Thomas Walker Esq'^ delivered the following speech 
to the Shawanese in Answer to theirs of Yesterday 



Io6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Brothers we are sensible you delivered up a Consid- 
erable Number of Horses and Prisoners to Lord Dun- 
more at Camp Charlotte we are likewise Sensible 
that you delivered some Horses to the Commanding 
Officer at the Kanhawa in so doing you performed 
part of v/hat you Promised and so far Supported the 
Honor and Dignity of the Shawanese Nation you 
told us Yesterday you had delivered up all our flesh 
and Blood in this you are Mistaken there are many 
of our People still among you several of whom are 
not of a Proper Age to Judge for themselves and 
therefore ought to be Undeir the Controul of their 
Freinds many Negroes and Horses which were taken 
from us are Still Wanting a Particular Account of 
them we will give you at any time 

Brothers you have promised that our people shou'd 
be at Liberty to ireturn to their relations and that if 
any of our Freinds shou'd go to your Nation for their 
Children or relations who are too Young to Judge for 
themselves you that are now present will deliver them 
to such persons we also Expect that you will Assist 
any of our People that go for Negroes or horses in 
geting such Negroes and Horses belonging to them 
or any of us and as you have not fully Performed 
your Engagements with Lord Dunmore we Expect 
that you will Continue the Hostages with us or others 
in their stead until the whole of your Promises are 
Complied with 

Brothers your two Young Men going with the 
Wiandots and Pluggies Son to Kentucke will Prob- 
ably Occasion som.e uneasiness Amongst the Inhabi- 
tants of that Place and if they Behave amiss some of 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 107 

them Perhaps may be killed We recommend it to 
you to advise your People and all the other Indians 
not to go over the Ohio without Necessary Business 
and to Consult their Nation before they go also to 
take with them some white Person of Credit to Ac- 
quaint the Inhabitants of their Business A String 

The flying Crow a Cheif of the Six Nations then 
addressed himself to the Commissioners Brothers the 
Bigknife Listen to what I now say you told us 
Yesterday that you had spoke all you had to say and 
Desired our Answer what we have heard from you 
is Just and right and we are well Pleased with it and 
hope that all the Nations present do Approve it like- 
wise and now you shall hear what we have to say 
to you A String Brothers the Bigknife listen like- 
wise brother Onas listen you told us in your Speech 
that you Understood we thought you had an Inten- 
tion of taking our Lands from us you then Assured 
us you had no such Desire It is true we all Sus- 
pected that you Intended to encroach upon our Lands 
but we are now Satisfied and believe you have no 
such Intention as we think that our Brothers have 
spoke the real Sentiments of your Heairts and not 
from your Lips only you must no doubt know what 
Lands we have heretofore Granted you and we Ex- 
pect that you will not Suffer any of your foolish young 
Men to settle or encroach upon our Lands the Boun- 
daries you Mentioned were Settled by our respective 
Cheifs and we hope you will Observe them and make 
no Encroachments upon us that our Children may 
Continue to live in Peace and Freindship A Belt 
Brothres the bigknife and Onas listen to me we 



io8 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

have heard what you have said and like it well and 
shall Carefully Observe your Advice to us and sit 
Still we and all the Nations present have now fast 
hold of the Chain of Freindship and you may be As- 
sured that we will not suifer it to Slip through our 
hands and hope you have the same Strong hold of 
it A Belt 

Kiashota another Cheif of the Six Nations then 
Spoke Brothers the bigknife and Onas listen Every 
thing you have said We like and return you our Sin- 
cere thanks Brothers Onas and the bigknife we have 
not much to say but what we do say I hope you will 
Attend to I Observe that there are some Differences 
between yourselves I advise you to be Strong and 
let no Disputes be Among you that our Council fire 
may be well Kindled and burn Clear so that when we 
are hereafter invited to it we may come with Pleasure 
Brothers the Bigknife and Brother Onas I advise 
you to what is good for yourselves I now Assure 
you that the six Nations have a strong hold of the 
Chain of Freindship and with these Belts I bind fast 
in freindship my Brothers the Wiandots, Delawares 
Shawanese and Tawaas with you Three Belts one 
to each Nation ■ 

White Eyes then Addressed the Indians as fol- 
lows Brothers listen to me you heard me tell our 
Bretheren the English that I hoped we shou'd finish 
the good work we had began and as our Brothers de- 
sired us to remove all Obstructions out of the road 
that our Young Men Women and Children might 
Pass and repass Unmolested and that the Freindship 
which has been made between us in the presence of 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 109 

God Almighty may be Lasting and Strong and as we 
know the Bounds of the Lands Claimed by our 
Brothers Extends as far as the Mouth of the Chero- 
kee River I for my part will be Strong and Prevent 
my young Men from hunting thereon for I had rather 
they wou'd employ themselves in planting Corn in 
their Own feilds than that any Mischeif shou'd hap- 
pen by theia* hunting Delivers the Road and Freind- 
ship Belts to the Wiandots 

Brothers the day before Yesterday our brothers 
the English Acquainted us that all the White People 
in this Island had now become as one Man and de- 
sired us to be Strong and to hold fast of the Chain 
of Freindship that subsists between us and them for 
our parts we are but poor and Ignorant and desire 
nothing but to Preserve the Freindship and as we 
have now told our Brothers the English that we have 
all taken fast hold of the Chain of Freindship let us 
be strong and on our Parts let none of us Attempt to 
do any thing that will weaken it in the Least our 
old Cheif who you now see here as well as our Other 
Old Cheif who we left sick in our Town desired us 
to go and Listen to the Speeches that shou'd be made 
to us and embrace every thing that was good Uncles 
the Six Nations as you Count yourselves strong in 
your Heart and as you say Command the Hearts of 
all other Nations of Indians I now desire you to be 
Strong and Acquaint them of this Freindship that 
has been made so that it may not be broke but Con- 
tinue forever A Belt to the Six Nations 

Brothers listen to me while I speak to our brothers 
the English Brothers as we have now renewed and 



no REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Confirmed the freindship between us if you Suspect 
that there is any thing in my heart but what is good 
and Sincere, I beg you wou'd tell me of it; as I 
wou'd wish that no evil thing thats done by my People 
shou'd be kept Secret, and tliat every one may know 
that I wou'd not desire any thing bad shou'd be Un- 
known and as you have Informed us that if any of 
your People shou'd do us any Injury you wou'd Pun- 
ish them I also now for my part promise that if 
any of my foolish Young Men shou'd do any harm 
to your People that we will punish them as they de- 
serve without delay as I wou'd wish to Comply with 
the dictates of the Christian Relegion and Commands 
of our Saviour whose hands were Nailed to the Gross 
and sides Peirced for our Sins as far as I am Cap- 
able in my Present Dark State A Belt 

Dr Walker then Spoke Brothers we heartily 
thank you for your kind Advice and you may depend 
all we have said to you Proceeds from our Hearts and 
that we shall Punctually Comply with every part of 
it you Mention that there Appears to be some differ- 
ence Amongst us we know of none we are all 
Heartily engaged in the same great and good Cause 
and Expect you will fully discover it is so before 
this Business is finished 

Kiashota on behalf of the Wiandots and Tawaas 
then Spoke Brothers the Bigknife and Onas we 
have heard and all the Nations here present have 
heard what you have said to us and we think it good 
we were sent here by our Cheifs to listen to what our 
Brothers the big knife and Onas had to say and we 
are well Pleased with what we have heard we shall 



/ 

TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS m 

return after the Treaty and inform our Cheifs of the 
good Speeches you have made to us 

The Cornstalk then spoke as follows All my Elder 
Brothers the English the reason of my addressing 
you in this Manner is because you have Informed us 
that all the White People in this Island are now be- 
come as one Man as it is evening now and you have 
Desired us to Consider well of what we have to say 
in (reply to you we will do so and return you an Ans- 
wer tomorrow 



The Commissioners agreeable to the request of the 
Shawanese dispatched the following Letters by Ex- 
press Directed to all the Inhabitants on the Ohio and 
its Eastern Branches and to the Officer Commanding 
at the Mouth of the Great Kanhawa 

Freinds and Countrymen — The Shawanese have 
Informed us in Council that some of their foolish 
Young People had burnt some Houses up the Kan- 
hawa and Committed other Irregularities without the 
Knowledge of the Cheif of their Nation Those of 
that Nation now here have sent off two of their 
People to their Towns to endeavour to restrain them 
from Crossing the Ohio and with Particular Orders 
not to give any disturbance or be guilty of the like 
Behaviour in future, they have likewise Informed us 
that there are a party of Different Nations gone to 
Observe the Settlement on Kentucke we therefore 
have thought it proper to Inform you of this that 
you may be on your gaurd and at the same time Ac- 
quaint the Inhabitants on the Kentucke by the first 



112 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Opportunity we wou'd have you Avoid giving the 
Indians Offence and forbear hunting on the Other 
side of the River Ohio at the same time you are to 
gaurd against Mischeif from them and not tamely 
Submit to any Insult wantonly offered by them We 
have reason to beleive that on the return of their 
Cheifs from this place every thing will be Amicably 
settled in the Nation as they Intend to return from 
Pittsburg by Water we Charge you not to give them 
Offence as we are Certain that the Shawanese here 
are well disposed and will Preserve the Peace with 
the white People if Possible 

we are your freinds and Countrymen 
(Signed) Tho' Walker James Wood 

A Lewis A Stephen 

P S. all officers and Soldiers in Actual Service on 
the Ohio are desired to take Notice that they are by 
a resolve of the Convention to receive their Instruc- 
tions from time to time of Captain John Nevill Com- 
mandant now at this place 

Captain Nevills Instructions to the Officer Command- 
ing at Kanhawa 

Sir — as I make no doubt you have seen the resolves 
of Convention before this time wherein I am ap- 
pointed to the Command of the Troops on the Ohio 
I hereby request you to keep your Men in good Order 
and well disciplined you are to Support and Protect 
the Neighbouring Settlements (if any) keep some of 
your Men Constantly Scouting to Prevent surprize 
shou'd the Indians break out or Attempt to Annoy you 
on the Settlements It is Expected the Indians will 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 113 

keep their own side of the river unless it be to your 
Fort on Business and you are not to Suffer your Men 
to Hunt on their side but that ought not to prevent 
your Reconnoit[r]ing and geting well Acquainted 
with the Country you will use the Indians well give 
them no Offence and do not tamely Submit to any 
Insult designedly Offered to you by them let me 
know what prospect you have of geting flour to serve 
your Company as I am Apprehensive it may be got 
much cheaper from this Quarter than from your 
Count [r]y it will be Necessary that you let me know 
what Quantity you have Engaged and at what rate 
I am Persuaded Beef Can be got upon Better Terms 
from Green Brier than here shou'd any thing extra- 
ordinary happen in your Quarter you will be Kind 
Enough to loose no time in making me Acquainted 
with the Particulars I flatter myself I shall have 
the Pleasure of being better Acquainted with you for 
the time to come I wish you an agreeable Winter 
and am with respect yrs' 

John Nevill 



At a Conferrence Continued and held with the Dif- 
ferent Tribes of Indians IS^^^ October 1775 Present 
as before 

The Cornstalk came forward and Desired his 
Brothers the English his Elder Brothers the Six Na- 
tions and Wiandots his Grandfathers the Delawares 
and all that were present to Listen to him Brothers 
the Bigknife' agreeable to the Invitation which you 
gave all the Indians here present you see Among the 



114 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



rest your younger Brothers the Shawanese who as 
soon as they received your Message came to this 
Council fire which you have Kindled you told us 
that you had .removed all evil as well from our hearts 
as your own so that we would be the Better Enabled 
to renew and Brighten the Chain of Freindship I 
was Exceedingly rejoiced and as I thought the Great 
and Good Spirit had directed you in your good 
Speeches I Immediately Joined heartily with you in 
it you likewise Informed us that you had gathered 
together all the Bones of our freinds who fell in the 
late Unhappy disputes between us that you had Buried 
them and Planted the Tree of Peace over them so 
that they might never be seen again to Create any 
Sorrow or Uneasiness I was very Much rejoiced to 
hear this as I thought the Great Spirit had directed 
you and that you had become wise and took pity on 
your young Brothers the Shawanese and all your other 
Brothers now present We and also our old Brothers 
the six Nations Wiandots Tawaas and our Grand- 
fathers the Delawares are very glad to hear the good 
things you have said and Immediately laid hold on 
every thing that was good Elder Brothers the six 
Nations and Wiandots our Young Brothers the Ta- 
waas and Grandfathers the Delawares you have 
heard what our Elder Brothers have said to us all 
and were well Pleased with it you also heard how 
they addressed themselves to their Younger Brothers 
the Shawanese separately because they think there is 
some thing yet between us and them that is unsetled 
Brothers the Bigknife yesterday you desired us to 
deliver up all your flesh and Blood your Negroes your 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 115 

horses and every thing also that belonged to you and 
that the Hostages that where [wpre] with you last 
Winter must 'remain with you or others in their stead 
untill We Performed every thing you Asked of us 
this is a hard task you have set us and may create 
some Uneasiness among us 

Brothers the Bigknife I now Inform you that we 
Cannot Comply with your request in sending our Hos- 
tages back with you they have been with you since 
the last fall and some others of my young Men I sent 
to Visit their Bretheren and conduct them to this 
place the reason of my telling you that We Cannot 
comply with your request is that we have at three 
different times delivered up to you your flesh and 
blood and as you say there are still some remaining 
among us I begg that you wou'd send Twenty of 
your People with us we will conduct them safe to 
our Towns and if they find any of your flesh and 
Blood let them bring them away they will then have 
an Opportunity of seeing your horses or any thing 
else that belongs to you if they find any they may 
take them I have already inform'd you that I was all 
last Winter Collecting and delivering up your Horses 

as you seem to think that we are the only People 
who have stolen your horses I now inform you that 
there are above Twenty of your Horses Among the 
Tawittawas my Grandfathers the Delawares some of 
your foolish Young Men who joined our foolish men 
last summer particularly the Pheasant carried of[f] 
Eight of our Brothers Horses you know best whether 
they have ever been returned there is a Woman of 
my Nation Anipassicowa who has some of your Ne- 



Il6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

groes as she belongs to my Tribe I will speak to 
her and doubt not she will listen to me but as her 
Children are Sprung from my Grandfathers the Dela- 
wares there may perhaps some difficulty arise from 
that It is true there are two Negro Children which 
were begotten by my People and we are not the only 
People who have intermixed with Negroes we are 
not Willing to give up the Children there is another 
old Negro Woman which you may Get if you will 
bring her home upon your backs for she is not able 
to walk As we have clear'd the road between us We 
desire you as before to send Twenty of your young 
Men with us to the Mouth of Hockocking and a few 
of them may go with us to the Town and they will 
then have an Opportunity of seeing and heairing what 
We say to your Relations 



At a Conference Continued and held with the In- 
dians at Pittsburg the 14*^ of October 1775 Present 
the same as Yesterday The following Speech was 
delivered to the diferent Nations of Indians Present 
by Doctor Walker 

Brothers the Six Nations Wyandots Delawares 
Shawanese and Ottawas We have in a former Speech 
told you that we were sent by our great Council in 
Virginia to deliver to you your Hostages and to re- 
ceive of you Our flesh and Blood and all our Negroes 
and Horses that yet remain amongst you agreeable to 
your Stipulations with Lord Dunmore We are sorry 
you are come Unprepared to fulfill your part of that 
Solemn Contract and that our Brothers the Sha- 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 117 

wanese seems to be averse to give us the reasonable 
Security we required for the deUvery of our property 
yet in their hands this seems to be the only Obstruc- 
tion in our Way to compleat the very Great and de- 
sirable work now on hand we are not come un- 
prepared to give Our brothers the Strongest proofs 
of the great desire we have of living in Amity with 
them and We hope you will not stand out so far as 
to deprive us of the happiness We promis'd ourselves 
in giving you this Testimony of our Generosity and 
freindship for We can by no Means give the pres- 
ent put into our hands for you but to such as fulfill 
their Engagements or at least comply with them as 
far as may be in their Power we are far from desir- 
ing impossibilities of you and we hope that you will 
yet exert yourselves and gather together all of our 
peoples property you can find and deliver them up 
rather than say "We permit you to search for them" 
how should we know where to find them you took 
them from us and from your hands we Expect to 
receive them 

Brothers the Shawanese you told us on Wednes- 
day the 12*^ of this Instant that three of your foolish 
young men had been at the Kanhawa and burned 
some old Useless Houses but that the Fort was not 
hurt we now have proof that part of the Fort is 
bum'd and all the Houses in it destroyed Except the 
Loggs of the Store and that five Indians were seen 
going from the fort to a house neair it who on seeing 
our People run of [f] their blankets were found about 
a Quarter of a Mile from the place where the Indians 



Il8 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

were seen from that Circumstance it Appears they 
intended Mischeif 

Brothers we have before told you all that we had 
no intention of incroaching on your Lands which are 
the real Sentiments of our hearts but if you will Con- 
tinue to do us Mischeif you must not Expect to be 
treated with such Lenity as you were in the Year 
1764 by Colo Boquet and by Lord Dunmore last fall 
but on the Contrary if you Oblige us to march an 
Airmy into any of your Countrys to do ourselves Jus- 
tice the fault will be your Own and you may Judge 
the Consequence and you may rely upon it that the 
Interposition of any other Nation will be ineffectual 
to restrain us from taking Ample Satisfaction for any 
Injury that you may do us 

Brothers of the different Nations here present we 
have now delivered you the Teal Sentiments of our 
hearts and recommend it to you to Consider it with 
Attention we have been long here and have never 
Observed you Consult Mutually together we now hope 
that you will and that you determine within your- 
selves to think of nothing else till you retum us an 
Answer which we shall be ready to receive and hope 
it will be soon A String to Each Nation 

Kayashuta then Spoke as follows Brothers the 
Bignknife & Onas I and all present have heard what 
you have said there is one thing you have demanded 
of our Younger Brothers the Shawanese which at 
this time is a little difficult for them to perform that 
is that they shou'd deliver up all your flesh and blood 
and Negroes and everything else that they have taken 
from you According to their Promise made last fall 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 119 

however as I represent the Six Nations and am the 
oldest and have greater Authority than any here I will 
endeavour to have it done and for that purpose will 
send two of my Men and my Nephews the Delawares 
will send two to their Towns to see that it is done 
the Wiandotts and Ottawas will likewise Assist their 
Brothers the Shawanese in Complying with your re- 
quest, as we all think you demand nothing more of 
them than what you've a right to ask of them What 
I have said now are the real Sentiments of my heajrt 
and I mean to perform what I have now promised to 
Morrow Morning we will all Consult together and 
some time in the day will give you a final Answer 

Doctor Walker then Replyed Brothers the Six 
Nations you have spoke like honest Men and we have 
not the least doubt but you will perform what you 
have promised 



At a Conference Continued and held with the In- 
dians at Pittsburg October 16th 1775 Present the 
same as before 

Kayashuda on behalf of all the Nations Present 
spoke as follows Brothers the Bigknife cmd Onas 
two days ago We heard the demand you made of the 
Shawanese requiring them to deliver up all your flesh 
and Blood your Negroes, Horses and all that they had 
belonging to you According to their promise made last 
fall to Lord Dunmore We that are here present will 
aid and assist our Young Brothers to fulfill their en- 
gagements with you therefore I shall send off two of 
my Men with two of the Delawares and Shawanese 



I20 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to morrow to collect what white Prisoners are Among 
us as well as the Negroes and Horses that are yet 
among us belonging to you and will deliver them to 
you if there should be any defeciency we will hope 
you will pity us as we shall do every thing in our 
Poweir to Comply with our promise Brothers you 
require of the Shawanese to leave Hostages with you 
untill they comply with their Engagements made last 
fall We think you are rather too strict with them, 
we hope you will not insist upon it but be satisfied 
with the Promises we have all made you that the 
Shawanese shall comply with your demands as far 
as lies in their Power and We desire that your 
Brothers the Big knife and Onas will send two of 
your Men (v/ho are Acquainted with our Language 
and Customs) with those whom we send that they 
may be Eye Witness's of our endeavours to comply 
with our promise Brothers as the Winter is com- 
ing on we hope you will give the Young Men we 
send to the Towns some Cloaths to keep them warm 
and some Amunition to supply them with Provisions 
on the Road Three Strings 

White Eyes on behalf of the Delawares then ad- 
dressed himself to the Commissioners and Six Na- 
tions and English and Said Relations I am Quite 
tired in my heart in Considering how we shou'd Com- 
pleat the good Work we are about you have heard 
what our Bretheren the English have said to us for 
some days past they have demanded their flesh and 
Blood Negroes and horses and as yet we have noth- 
ing to Establish a freindship that our Childeren 
might reap the Advantage of it 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 121 

My Uncles the Six Nations I told you before and 
now tell you that my heart is small and I think of 
nothing but what is good and as you sayed your 
hearts were Strong and that you had the hearts of 
other Nations in your hands I desired you to Ad- 
vise the other Nations to be Strong and perform 
what our bretheren the English demanded of them 
I for my part do not love to speak lies my young 
Men may go to tlie Towns but I am sure they will 
bring nothing back with them as I have not heard 
my Grand Children the Shawanese promise their 
bretheren to deliver up what belonged to them and 
it is more than a Year since the Shawanese have re- 
fused to listen to us It is not hard what our Broth- 
ers demand of them their Flesh and Blood their Ne- 
groes and their Horses belong to thept>t they Prom- 
ised Lord Dunmore to deliver them up and therefore 
ought to perform it A String 

Nimwha a Chief of the Shawanese then Spoke 
Brothers the Six Nations and Wiandots and Grand- 
fathers the Delawares listen while I speak to my 
brothers the big knife Brothers the big knife last 
fall when Lord Dunmore came near to our Towns 
and we were concluding a Peace he demanded all 
your Flesh and Blood Negroes Horses and every 
other thing belonging to you which were with us 
when you first made your Appearance at this Council 
fiire we heard the Good things you had to say tO' us and 
you demanded your People Negroes and Horses 
from us. I now promise that we will deliver them 
up to you as we are desirous that we and our Chil- 
deren after us may live in Freindship. Uncles the 



122 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Six Nations and Grandfathers the Delawares as we 
are all going for the People and property of our 
Brothers the English that are Among us there cannot 
be the Least doubt but we shall Accomplish it now 
you have heard what we promised Brothers the Big 
knife as we have now Complied with your request 
in Promising to deliver up your People and property 
I beg that you and our Brothers from Philadelphia 
may think of nothing else for the future but how to 
Preserve the Friendship between us 

Doctor Walker then replied Brothers of the dif- 
ferent Nations as there seems to be a great differ- 
ence in Opinion Among you at Present we desire you 
to Consider well of it to night and become Unani- 
mous in what was proposed by the Six Nations other- 
wise we shall Insist on Hostages being delivered to 
Us for the Performance of your Engagement with 
Lord Dunmore at Camp Charlotte last fall 



At a Conference Continued and held with the In- 
dians at Pittsburg October 17th 1775 Present as be- 
fore 

Kiashota a Six Nation Cheif addressed the Com- 
missioners as follows Brothers the Bigknife likewise 
Brothers Onas listen to what I am going to say also 
my Indian Brothers Listen to me you know you de- 
sired the Shawanese to deliver up your flesh and 
Blood Negroes and Horses you know the Answer 
we gave you yesterday that we wou'd assist our 
Younger Brothers the Shawanese and use our En- 
deavours that they shou'd Comply with your Demand 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 123 

as the Six Nations are the head of all the other 
Tribes here present I tell you I will be Strong and 
use my best Endeavours that the Shawanese shall 
perform the same I say it shall be done and my 
People will take Care that the Shawanese shall Com- 
ply with it all that are come here to this Council fire 
came to Perform this Good Work and we hope the 
same will be Settled to our Mutual Satisfaction as 
I told you yesterday we wou'd send two Men from 
Each Nation to bring up your flesh and Blood Ne- 
groes and Horses we request you wou'd Nominate 
two of your young Men to go down to the Towns 
to see this Promise performed I speak for all the 
Nations here present A String 

Nimwha in behalf of the Shawanese then Spoke 
Brothers all here present Listen to me. you have 
heard what Passed at this Council between us and 
our Brothers of Virginia Brothers the Bigknife I 
now Inform you what was demanded of us shall 
be delivered up I now desire that our Hearts 
may be at Ease and I hope that the Great Spirit will 
take Pity on us so that we will be able to Conclude 
a Peace and that our Childrens Children may reap 
the Blessings and advantage of it as you were sent 
by the Cheifs of .your People and we by our Kings 
to this Council to renew and Strengthen the Freind- 
ship subsisting between us .; let us now be Strong 
and Accomplish this good work so that every Morn- 
ing in future when'; we rise we may think of Nothing 
but what is good 

Captain White Eyes A Cheif of the Delawares Ad- 
dressed the Indians as follows. My Indian Brothers 



124 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



listen to me I am very much, rejoiced to hear your 
Promises that you will deliver up the Flesh and 
Blood Negroes, and Horses which your Brothers the 
Bigknife demanded of you and which has Occasioned 
this Long Journey to them formerly I was .Con- 
cerned in the War against my Bretheren the English 
but when the Great Spirit took Pity on us and Peace 
was. Restored and they demanded their flesh and 
Blood of us we then sent our Wise People to Lan- 
caster where they Cleared the, Council House and de- 
livered up their Flesh and Blood and every thing was 
Settled Shortly after other Mischeif Happened Ow- 
ing to the Advice of Bad People but when we met 
Colonel Boquet at Coshocting and he Demanded his 
flesh and Blood we then delivered up some [to] him 
and sent Killbuck to S^ William Johnston to finish 
the Peace there are four of your flesh and Blood 
still remaining with us some of whom run away and 
came back One Negro which I now promise to de- 
liver at this place in a few days I now tell you my 
Uncles the Six Nations that I will bring them myself 
and not give any Trouble to you and as some of my 
foolish Young Men who Joined in the Unhappy dis- 
putes last Year and who brought of [f] some of their 
Brothers Horses I know but of three which I will 
likewise deliver up and the Owners shall have them 
to ride home in a few days as we have now Finished 
and promised to deliver up what you demanded I 
now Inform for the future if any Mischeif shou'd' 
happen I will not Join in it but will Immediately 
withdraw myself and think of nothing but what is 
good there are two Negro Women and two Children 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 125 

in ouir Towns in the hands of the Shawanese which 
we will also Use our best Endeavours to have de- 
livered up A String 

Doctor Walker then delivered the following Speech 
to the Different Tribes of Indians Bretheren 
your younger Brothers the Shawanese are Greatly 
Obliged to the other Nations for their kind , interpo- 
sition in their favor we aire much pleased to , find all 
the Nations present so heartily disposed to Establish 
the, Peace of this Country Brothers we have heard 
your respective promises and Engagements relying 
On the Most faithfuU Performance thereof we shall 
rest satisfied and , desire you will all be strong in this 
Good Work that the Peace now Established betwixt 
us may Endure forever when you bring our flesh 
and Blood Negroes and Horses to this place (which 
we hope, will be soon) we desire you will deliver them 
to Captain Nevill Commandant at this Fort we have 
a few Presents to make you for. your Winter Cloath- 
ing and for your Women and Children which were 
sent you by your Brothers of Virginia and which is 
over and above their Proportionable part of the pres- 
ent you will hereafter receive from the ,Com[missi] 
oners Appointed by the Thirteen Un[ited] Colonies 
the Present put, into our h[ands] will be delivered 
as soon as the Continental Commissioners finish their 
Business with you We are now in , perfect Freind- 
ship with you all and hope to remain so forever A 
String to Each Nation 

The Different Nations of Indians were then In- 
formed that if they were desirous of sending any of 
their Children to be Educated among the White 



126 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

People . it shou'd be done without any Expence to 
them and that if any of them thought proper to 
Visit our Country they wou'd be, taken by the Hand 
and treated with Hospitality^^ 



At a Conference held .with the Different Nations 
of Indians October 19th 1775 Present the same 
Commissioners as before The Commissioners as 
well as , the Cheifs of the Different Nations proceeded 
to the Appointment of persons as well on the part of 
the Colony as the . said Indians to Perform that part 
of the Treaty relating to the Delivery of the Prison- 
ers Negroes and [H]orses which remain among the 
Indians Mr John Gibson wit[h] one othor White 
Man is Appointed for the Colony of Virginia 
Kightoi and Kenightie for the Six Nations Tete- 
puska, Winganum , and Joseph Pepy for the Dela- 
wares and Allanawissica and Wewelatimiha for the 
Shawanese It is likewise Engaged by the Indians 
that Kiashota . a Six Nation Cheif and Cap^ Pipe a 



21 The following letter, dated Williamsburgh, Nov. i8, 1775, 
is printed in Amer. Archives, 4th series, iii, p. 1542: "Dr. 
Thomas Walker, one of the gentlemen appointed by the Con- 
vention to treat with the Indians, is returned to this City and 
informs that all the different nations, who attended the treaty, 
are peacefully disposed, notwithstanding the endeavours of 
several persons from Fort Detroit to set them against this 
Colony in particular. Mr. Walker has brought with him a 
young Indian (son of the famous Bawbee) to be educated at 
college." This young chief remained in Virginia until 1779, 
but upon his return to the Indian country spread among the 
tribesmen unfavorable reports of the Virginians. See Hecke- 
welder, Narrative, p. 206. — Ed. 



TREATY WITH WESTERN INDIANS 127 

Delaware Cheif shall go with them to the Shawanese 
Towns and Assist them in the Execution of their 



purpose 
October 21st 1775 



Thomas Walker 
Andrew Lewis 
James Wood 
Adam Stephen 



BRITISH REPORT OP TREATY 

[Lieut. Gov. Henry Hamilton to Gen. Guy Carleton. 
45J101 — A. L., draft in handwriting of Hamilton.] 

Detroit Novi': 30th. 1775 
Deer; 4th 22 

Sir: I had the honor. of writing to your Ex[cel- 
lency] by the opportunity of M"^ Bolton Master of the 
Gage Schooner, who is gone down to> Canada to en- 
deavor to engage seamen for the service of the 
Lakes the ensuing season.^^ Since his departure a 
Delaware savage, named Mahingan John arrived 
here 23^. Nov^: from Pittsbourg where he had been 
present at a Council of the Virginians assembled 
there upon the. design of engaging several nations to 
declare in their favor he came to this place in com- 



22 In the manuscript the date Nov. 3otli has been crossed 
out, and Deer. 4th substituted, as here indicated.— Ed. 

23 The British kept a considerable naval force on the Great 
Lakes during the Revolution. See papers concerning the 
equipment, in Wis. Hist. Colls., xi, pp. 193-202. The "Gage" 
was still in use in 1777. David Bolton later commanded the 
"Ottawa," and appears to have had charge of all the shipping 
on the lakes. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., ix, p. 351. — Ed. 



128 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

pany with a frenchman .(one Drouillard)-* whom 
Cap^: Lemoult-^ has employed & who was within 
ten miles of Pittsburg. Drouillard's busyness. was to 
enquire among the savages what was going forwaird, 
& to bring, the earliest accounts to this place, as also 
to accompany any savage who might have got Belts 
to distribute, & to learn the result as well as to con- 
tradict false reports &ct. Mahingan John had got 
belts from the Virginians, which .he was to deliver 
to a Huron chief called Old Calotte, who lives about 



2* In the latter years of the French regime, the father of 
Pierre Drouillard emigrated to Detroit, where the son was 
born (about 1754). Pierre early became familiar with Indian 
languages, and was employed in trade with the savages. 
While among the Shawnee, he had a son, George, who after- 
wards accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition to 
the Pacific (1804-06). At the outbreak of the Revolution, 
Pierre was taken into the Indian department as interpreter for 
the Wyandot nation, receiving sixteen shillings per day until 
1783. In 1778, he saved Simon Kenton from the stake, by the 
payment of $100 in goods. At the close of the war he sought 
Kenton's home in Kentucky, where the latter rewarded him 
with a gift of land, and a home in his own house. In 1786 
Drouillard visited Congress, and was taken into United States 
service, being sent to negotiate with the Northwestern Indians. 
He finally settled on his farm between Sandwich and Maiden 
and died there in April, 1803. He had married (1776) Angel- 
ine Labadie, by whom he left several children. Much of the 
above information was secured by Draper from the heirs of 
Kenton and Drouillard; see Draper MSS., 17S and 8BB.— Ed. 
25 Richard Berringer Lernoult was in 1756 commissioned 
lieutenant of the 8th (or King's) regiment, and received his 
captaincy in 1767. Two years later he was stationed in 
America, and in 1773 sent with a small detachment to Detroit. 
In 1776 he was reheved, but returned to Detroit Dec. i, 1777- 
There he was left first in command on the departure of Gov- 
ernor Hamilton for Vincennes in October, 1778. After the 
capture of Hamilton, Lernoult had entire charge of the de- 
partment of the West until relieved by De Peyster in Novem- 
ber, 1779. At Quebec he was promoted to a majority and 
served as adjutant-general for Haldimand, 1780-83.— Ed. 




Lieut.-Gov. Henry Hamilton 

After a portrait in the possession of Clarence M. Burton 
of Detroit 



BRITISH VERSION 129 

10. leagues from this place who is much in the Eng- 
lish Interest, and who has declared he will not allow 
those Belts to go any further, but that they should 
be buried with him. We expect him here early in the 
Spring . and shall endeavor to keep him in the same 
disposition. We have had accounts of your Excel- 
lency's success against the Rebels upon which I . beg 
leave most sincerely Ito cong^ratulate 3^u^^ As Mahin- 
gan John is to be at a Council next Spring at Pits- 
burgh, he has been made acquainted with some of the 
particulars which are sufficient to undeceive the Dela- 
wares and Shawanese, which latter from the purport 
of the enclosed papers your Excellency will . perceive 
are not likely to continue upon terms with . the Vir- 
ginians. Indeed any Peace between those people 
and any of the savage nations is liable to frequent 
interruptions from more causes than one. The Vir- 
ginians are haughty Violent and bloody, the . savages 
have a high opinion of them as Warriors, but are 
jealous of their encroachments, and very suspicious 
of their faith in treaties, the Virginians having fur-, 
nished them with frequent cause, seizing their Chiefs 
& detaining them as hostages, during which time their 
treatment has not been as mild as good policy should 
have dictated. In the inroads of the Virginians upon 
the savages, the former have plundered, burnt and 
murdered without mercy. Tis to be supposed from 
the character of the savages, that opportunity only 



2« Referring doubtless to the defeat and capture of Ethan 
Allen, who rashly made an attempt upon Montreal, Sept. 24, 
1775.--ED. 



I30 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



is wanting to retaliate, and that there can be but lit- 
tle cordiallity between them. If the affairs of the 
Colonials decline next , yeair as I think we may reas- 
onably expect, from all I can learn of the disposition 
of the savages, the frontier of Virginia in particular 
will suffer very severely. The nation of the Hurons 
is greatly respected by all the neighbouring nations, 
and it is probable the expence of presents to them 
next Spring will be pretty considerable. C[aptain] 
Lernoult tells me your Ex : had mentioned to him 
by letter that he should have by this fall or the next 
spring six Months provisions in addition for this 
post and that of Missilimalkinak, which considering 
the proposed addition of seamen, and the Necessity 
of providing the savages will be very neces- 
sary. M^: Hay who acts as Engineer here, and 
who understands the Huron language,^^ judges from 
what the savages say that if the Virginians and Dela- 
wares should cross the Ohio next Spring it will be 
as early as April. The Virginians have several Em- 
issaries in pay and have given away in presents and 



2'' Jehu Hay was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, and in 1758 
enlisted in the 60th (or Royal) American regiment. In 1762 
he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and sent to Detroit with a 
detachment of troops. There he served during Pontiac's con- 
spiracy, and in 1766 was made Indian commissary. In 1776 
he became deputy Indian agent, and major of the Detroit 
militia. Having accompanied Hamilton to Vincennes, he was 
taken prisoner (1779) by George Rogers Clark, and sent to 
Virginia, where he w^as finally exchanged in 1781, and passed 
via New York to England. In June, 1782, Hay was again in 
Quebec, where he was appointed lieutenant-governor of De- 
troit to succeed De Peyster. He did not, however, reach De- 
troit until the summer of 1784, and died a year later while oc- 
cupying his office. Hay had much influence with the Detroit 
Indians, by whom he was known as "Touraighwaghti." — Ed. 



BRITISH VERSION 131 

Provisions to the amount of three thousand Pounds, 
I have desired M^": Hay to give me a copy of his 
letter to Capt°: Claus-^ which I have the honor to 
enclose to your Ex : as it may save the time of Capt^ : 
Claus communicating to you what it contains. A 
Canadian one Desnoyers^^ carries the Express, ac- 
companied by a Chipawaa Savage,^^ they are to call 
at Niagara and pass by the way of Oswegatchie*^ 



-8 Col. Daniel Claus was born in Germany in 1727. Arriv- 
ing in Philadelphia in 1749, he met Conrad Weiser, a well- 
known Indian interpreter, and accompanied him among the 
Six Nations. Claus's proficiency in acquiring Indian lan- 
guages attracted the notice of the governor of Pennsylvania 
who commissioned him to learn Iroquois, during which time 
he resided with Sir William Johnson and King Hendrick, the 
Mohawk. In the French and Indian War Claus was com- 
missioned lieutenant of the 6oth regiment, and deputy Indian 
agent under Johnson. At the close of the war, having mar- 
ried Johnson's daughter, he became superintendent for the 
Canadian Indians, an office which he held until 1776. Having 
then been superseded, he visited England, returning in 1777 
with a new commission as deputy Indian agent. In that ca- 
pacity he accompanied St. Leger's expedition (1777) and was 
in, constant service during the Revolutionary War. At ita 
close, while in the mother country to recover his estate con- 
fiscated by the Americans, he died in Cardiff, Wales, 1787. — Ed. 

29 The Desnoyers were a prominent Detroit family, one mem- 
ber of which, living on the east side of the river, warned the 
English officers of the intended siege by Pontiac. Pierre Des- 
noyers and wife are noted in the census of 1779. — Ed. 

so The Chippewa are a large branch of the Algonquian fam- 
ily, whose first representatives were met by the French at 
Sault Ste. Marie — hence their French name, Saulteurs. Upon 
the founding of Detroit, one branch was attracted to that vi- 
cinity. Their chief habitat was, however, the shores of Lake 
Superior and the country north, where large bands of this tribe 
are still extant. — Ed. 

®i Fort Oswegatchie was on the site of the mission and for- 
tified post of Abbe Picquet, a Sulpician missionary, who began 
an establishment in 1749, called "La Presentation." By the 
time of the French and Indian War, he had attracted to this 
place a force of nearly a thousand Iroquois. Being surrendered 



132 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to IMontreal, they have directions to go to General 
Prescott/^ and wait for your Excellency's orders. As 
soon as the season grows something milder (for we 
have now very severe frost with snow) I shall re- 
vievv^ the Companies of Militia and make your Ex- 
cellency a report of the state in which I shall find 
them. As it may possibly happen that Captain Bol- 
ton (whom I have already mentioned) has been de- 
tained by bad weather, or some unforeseen accident, 
I send a duplicate of Capt^: Grant's ^^ return of Na- 
val stores wanting for the Vessels, that if possible 
they may come by the first Batteaux. The Traders 
at this Place have presented me a petition ( respect- 
ing the carrying place at Niagara) to be laid before 
your Excellency, which I send by the Express. I 
am not a proper judge of the reasonable [ness] of 



to the English in 1760, they rebuilt the fort and named it Os- 
wegatchie. A garrison was maintained therein until after Jay's 
Treaty in 1794. The fort was on the site of the present town 
of Ogdensburgh, N. Y. — Ed. 

32 Richard Prescott (1725-88) became major of the 33rd in- 
fantry in 1756. In 1773 he came to Canada, and with the rank 
of brigadier-general was in command at Montreal in 1775. 
When Montgomery captured the city, Prescott attempted to 
escape down the river, but was intercepted and made prisoner. 
Exchanged the following August (1776), he was sent in De- 
cember to command in Rhode Island, where he was again 
made prisoner by the Americans. Prescott was accused of 
much harshness in his treatment of American prisoners, and 
was greatly disliked. — Ed. 

33 Capt. Alexander Grant of the 42nd infantry was in De- 
troit as early as 1774. He commanded a vessel on the Great 
Lakes during the entire Revolutionary War, and later became 
commodore of the British fleet, as well as serving as magis- 
trate and councillor for the district. In 1812 he was still in 
command, after fifty years of service. He died at his home at 
Grosse Pointe about 181 5, aged above eighty-five years. His 
naval service was efficient. — Ed. 



BRITISH VERSION 133 

their demands and objections, but by all accounts the 
present occupy er has behaved with uncommon Dili- 
gence, activity and spirit, and I take the liberty of 
representing him to your Excellency as a very proper 
person, at the same time, that I by no means insinu- 
ate the facts alledged by the traders to be falsely 
stated. M^' Stedman told me when on the spot, that 
having been used to tiransport the loading of Bat- 
teaux, estimated at so many Barrels, or so many 
Packs, these Barrels & packs at a certain weight, he 
found some traders had added to the size of the 
former & the Weight of the latter, so that he came 
to a resolution of having all goods weighed in scales 
at the landing, & to take payment accordingly which 
would prevent imposition. It is not to be supposed 
however that the parties concerned are to be judges 
of the rates or to fix them themselves. I told them 
they were not to expect at such a time as this that 
regulations were to be alterd, or another carrying 
place thought of on the opposite side (which is the 
Idea of the Merch^: in Canada as I am informd,) 
but that they might expect Government would in due 
time attend to their representation. I shall not at pres- 
ent take up your Excellency's time with a detail of 
matters relating to the civil state of the Settlement, 
when it is signified to me that it may be seasonably 
done, I shall take the liberty of laying before your 
Excellency such things as call more immediately for 
redress. 

I am informed by a person of Character here (M'^: 
Hay acting Engineer,) that when Colour Bradstreet 



134 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



took Possession of this place & Missilimakinak^* he 
took to the last place a number of Canadians with 
Arms to assist in taking Possession of the Post, & 
to cut fuel & do other services for the Garrison, they 
were promised half a Dollar p^": day, but never got 
paym.ent, tho they had neglected their harvest & 
returnd half naked, such a precedent must be of 
the worst Consequence and I mention the fact to 
your Excellency as it has left a deep impression on 
those Vv^ho were sufferers from such a dishonorable 
breach of word and Credit. I beg leave to remind 
your Ex: of a young man named Ferguson or Far- 
quharson, apprentice to M^: Dobie Merch^ at Mon- 
treal, who was extremely active as a Volunteer on the 
Sorel, and who gave the strongest proofs of his zeal 
for Government, I had promised him to speak in 
his favor to your Excellency, but my sudden depart- 
ure from Montreal would not allow me to be as good 
as my word, I hope to be excused for taking that 
liberty now, as I really look upon him tO' be a young 
man who would not be a disgrace to the service, 



3* Col. John Bradstreet, although English born, spent most 
of his mature life in America. Distinguishing himself for gal- 
lantry at the siege of Louisburg (1745), he received promo- 
tion in the army; and in the French and Indian War was for 
some time in command at Oswego. His most noted exploit 
was the capture of Fort Frontenac (1758). After Pontiac and 
his braves had besieged Detroit for nearly fifteen months, 
Bradstreet arrived in August, 1764, with an army of twelve 
hundred overawing the recalcitrant chiefs. Having made a 
treaty with the Indians, Colonel Bradstreet sent a detachment 
of three hundred troops under Capt. John Howard to reoccupy 
Mackinac, or Fort Missilimackimac, as it was then called. 
With them went two companies of Canadian militia, composed 
of fifty men each. Bradstreet was made major-general in 
1772, but died two years later at Detroit. — Ed. 



BRITISH VERSION 135 

& whose talent seems to lye that way, he speaks 
french very well and is not forward. 

The following Paragraph is copied from the torn 
pieces of a paper which coverd the Talk of the Vir- 
ginians to the savages at Fort Pitt, and which I sup- 
pose beeing deem'd by some of the council as too 
acrimonious has been corrected and crossed out as 
I have done exactly"^ 

I have sent this copy to your Excellency because 
tho not deliverd at the Council it shows how hardly 
they can irestrain their inveteracy against the Sav- 
ages, and how little cordiallity there can be in their 
Professions on either side, it does not appear that 
the savages have returned Belts or Strings for those 
presented them by the Commissioners, nor have we 
any account of the answer given by them to the Talk 
of the Commissioners, a copy of the minutes is sent 
to Niagara, & will be forwarded in the Spring to 
Missilimakinak 

Henry Hamilton^* 

Copy of a letter to Genl. Carleton Dec'': S^^- '^77S 
wrote the same day to Genl. Gage an acc^. of the meeting at 
Fort Pitt on the 7*11. Octr : kept no Copy 

same date to Genl Gage Boston ^7 Gen^. Prescott, Mon- 
treal Lord Rawdon Boston ^s Capt^ : Gambel Montreal ^^ 
Colol Caldwell Niagara 



85 Here follows a copy of Dr. Walker's speech of Oct. 14, as 
delivered to the tribesmen, without any omissions ; see antey 
pp. 116-118, Hamilton was incorrect in his surmise that this 
was too acrimonious to be delivered. — Ed. 

3® Henry Hamilton, of Irish descent, entered the British 
army in 1754 ; two years later he received his lieutenancy, and 
served with the 15th infantry, at first in France and then with 
Amherst at Louisburg (1758), where he was slightly wounded. 
His regiment had part in the battles around Quebec, and later 



136 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

CONNOLLY^S PLOT 

[The first document is an extract from a letter dated George- 
town, Md., Nov. 26, 1775, published in Pennsylvania Packet, 
1775, transcribed in Draper MSS., 2JJ, book E, 30-33; the 
second is from the same source, Dec. 4, 1775, 2JJ34, 35.] 

Agreeable to what I wrote you by , I set 

out on Tuesday morning last for Frederick-Town, 
and when within eight or nine miles of that place, 
had the pleasure to hear that Major Connolly with 
three companions were taken about five miles above 
Hagar's Town, on their way to Fort Pitt; Connolly 



served in the West Indies. In April, 1775, he was appointed 
lieutenant-governor of Detroit, where he arrived Nov. 9 of 
the same year. He was accused of cruelty in instigating the 
Indians to war, and when captured by George Rogers Clark 
at Vincennes (i779) was sent to Virginia in irons. His ex- 
change was not arranged until 1780, when he returned to Eng- 
land via New York. In 1782 he was appointed to succeed 
Haldimand as governor of Canada, an office which he held 
until 1785. In 1790 he was made governor of Bermudas, and 
in 1794 of Dominica. During the latter incumbency he died 
(1796) on the island of Dominica. — Ed. 

37 Gen. Thomas Gage (1721-87) entered the army in 1741 and 
first served in Flanders. Coming to America with Braddock 
(1754), he continued here throughout the French and Indian 
War, and at its close (1763) was made commander-in-chief of 
British forces in America, with headquarters in New York. 
Having returned to England in 1772, he was sent two years 
later to subdue the rebellious province of Massachusetts. Not 
succeeding in this he resigned (1775) and returned to Eng- 
land. — Ed. 

88 Francis Lord Rawdon (1754-1826), later Marquis of Hast- 
ings, was a brilliant young nobleman who came over with Gage 
and served against the colonists until 1781. His most noted 
command was in South CaroHna. He was active in English 
politics, and in. 1812 became governor-general of India, in 
which post he remained ten years. — Ed. 

3^ Thomas Gambel was a lieutenant when he came to Amer- 
ica in 1762. He had received his captaincy in August of the 
year in which Hamilton writes. See his letters from Quebec 
in Amer. Archives, 4th series, iv, p. 962. — Ed. 



CONNOLLY'S PLOT 137 

has been this summer at Boston, where he presented 
a plan of operations for the next spring, to General 
Gage, which met the general's approbation, and he 
was now on his way to put it in execution. ^° He is 
made Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, was to pro- 
ceed to Fort Detroit, where Captain Lord, who is 
now at the Illinois with two companies of the Royal 
Irish,*^ was to meet him with the field pieces and 

coupon reaching Lord Dunmore, off Yorktown in August, 
Connolly made such an impression upon the late governor's 
mind by his plan to advance against the colonists from the 
Western frontier, that the latter sent him by sea to Boston. 
There Gage approved his plan, and had he gone as was first 
proposed by way of Quebec and the Great Lakes to Detroit, 
it might have been successfully carried out — to the great in- 
jury of the American cause. The capture of Montreal and Ar- 
nold's expedition against Quebec, blocked the Canadian enter- 
prise, whereupon Connolly made his way back to Lord Dun- 
more, and attempted to reach the West through Virginia and 
Maryland. He was, however, too well-known and too strongly 
suspected to escape the vigilance of the patriots, who were 
warned by his letters to John Gibson and White Eyes (see 
ante, pp. 72-74), and arrested him as here stated on the night 
of Nov. 19. — Ed. ^ ^ 

*i Hugh Lord was commissioned captain in England, m 
1762. In 1770 he was assigned to the i8th Royal Irish regi- 
ment then in America, and probably went to Illinois with 
Lieut.-Col. John Wilkins, whom he superseded in cornmand 
of that country in 1771. Wilkins was very unpopular with the 
habitants. Lord, on the contrary, made himself much liked by 
them. During his administration (1772), Fort Chartres was 
abandoned, because of being undermined by floods, and the 
garrison withdrawn to Kaskaskia, christening their stronghold 
Fort Gage. Lord was in Detroit until i777- The followmg 
year he was promoted to a majority and assigned to the 75th, 
which took no part in the American war. In 1783 he was re- 
tired on half pay, but in the Napoleonic wars was major of the 
7th Royal Irish, and commandant for the island of Jersey. He 
died June 2, 1829. His withdrawal from the Illinois early in 
1776 doubtless was caused by the failure of Connolly's plan. 
See the latter's letters in Amer. Archives, 4th series, iv, pp. 617, 
618.— Ed. 



138 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

stores that are there. Connolly was to raise a regi- 
ment, as many Indians and partisans as he could; to 
enable him to do this, he had power to- engage to 
every person that entered into the service three hun- 
dred acres of land when the troubles are over, and 
whatever otheir pecuniary rewards he might think 
proper, was to appoint and commission all the officers 
under him, which commissions were to be confirmed 
by Dunmore. 

With this force he was to destroy Fort Pitt and 
Fort Fincastle,*- if the Americans should make any re- 
sistance, and meet Dunmore by the 20th of April 
next at Alexandria, where he, Dunmore w^as to land 
an army under the cannon of the ships of war. Con- 
nolly's companions were one Cameron,^^ who< is now 
a lieutenant, with promise of promotion, one Dr. 
Smith who says he was to be surgeon of Connolly's 
regiment :"*"' the other was Connolly's servant. 



*2 For an account of Fort Fincastle see Dunmore' s War, 
p. 86, note 35. — Ed. 

*3 Allen Cameron was a native of Scotland, and probably re- 
lated to tlie deputy Indian agent, John Stuart ; see Ihid., p. 40, 
note 72. Connolly says {op. cit., in note 40, ante) that Cam- 
eron had been agent under Stuart, had suffered much for his 
principles, and had refused offers of military rank from South 
Carolinian patriots ; that he had come to Virginia with dis- 
patches from the governors of East Florida and South Caro- 
lina, and knowing Indian character was considered by Lord 
Dunmore a proper person to join his (Connolly's) expedi- 
tion. In December, 1776, Cameron made an attempt to es- 
cape from the Philadelphia prison, but his rope broke, and he 
fell fifty feet, being found in an apparently dying condition. 
He partially recovered, however, and obtained his release in 
the winter of 1778, when he went to England, his physical con- 
dition debarring him from further military service. — Ed. 

** John Ferdinand Dalziel Smyth was a native of Scotland, 
who came to America a few years before the Revolution, and 
according to his own account, published as A Tour in the 



CONNOLLY'S PLOT 139 

They were brought into Frederick-Town on Wed- 
nesday morning, and on Thursday examined before 
the ('ommittee. On searching their portmanteaus a 
copy of Connolly's plan was found. *^ Thus you see 
a part of the diabolical scheme is defeated, but make 
no doubt but Dunmore will land an army at Alex- 



United States of America (London, 1784), travelled extensively 
in all the southern and western portions of the country. He 
finally bought property and settled in Maryland, whence he 
was driven at the commencement of the Revolution, because of 
his Loyalist sentiments. Having visited Lord Dunmore at 
Norfolk, he was induced to embark in Connolly's expedition. 
A brief account of his arrest is given in Amer. Archives, 4th 
series, iv, p. 616, note. Having made a bold escape, and a sub- 
sequent push for Fort Pitt, charged with Connolly's orders, he 
was again arrested and his papers confiscated, he being sent to 
Philadelphia for confinement. He finally escaped from Balti- 
more in December, 1776, reached Lord Howe in New York, 
and was made captain in the Queen's Rangers. In that capacity 
he was in the battle of Germantown. Smyth had a facile pen, 
and wrote several Loyalist ballads and songs. His Tour is 
not to be trusted; he makes therein many unauthenticated 
statements. — Ed. 

*° For this plan, see succeeding document. In his "Narra- 
tive," Connolly says that the search of the committee for his 
papers was at first ineffectual, as both he and Dr. Smyth had 
destroyed all incriminating documents before leaving Norfolk. 
Yet "there was a manuscript that had been wrapt around a 
stick of black ball by my servant, so soiled and besmeared, as 
to have escaped the search both of ourselves there, and the 
committee here, who were as industrious as they were sus- 
picious. This paper, which contained a rough draft of propo- 
sitions, supposed to have been laid before General Gage by 
me, but which really was not the case, was discovered in con- 
sequence of a fresh examination demanded by a Member of 
Congress, who arrived at the committee some days after we 
had been taken to Frederick Town, and was published as my 
confession, though I repeatedly, and with truth, denied the 
justice of the supposition." Connolly also states that his im- 
portant papers were concealed in the pilHon sticks of his sad- 
dle, that his servant obtained access to the shed where they 
were, and in the dead of the night destroyed all the papers save 
Connolly's commission, which he managed to have conveyed 
to him. — Ed. 



I40 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



andria in the spring; but as their scheme has thus 
providentially come to light, hope such preparations 
will be made, as will enable us to give him the re- 
ception he merits. 

Proposals for raising an army to the Westward, 
and for effectually obstructing a communication be 
tween the Southern and Northern Governments. 

"As I have, by directions from his Excellency Lord 
Dunmore, prepared the Ohio Indians to act in con- 
cert v/ith me against his Majesty's enemies in that 
quarter; and have also dispatched intelligence to the 
different officers of the militia on the frontiers of 
Augusta county, in Virginia, giving them Lx»rd Dun- 
niore's assurances that such of them as shall here- 
after evince their loyalty to his Majesty, by putting 
themselves under my command, when I should ap- 
pear amongst them with proper authority for that 
purpose, of a confirmation of titles to their lands, and 
the quantity of three hundred acres to all who should 
take up arms in support of the constitution, when the 
present rebellion subsided, I will undertake to pene- 
trate through Virginia, and join his Excellency Lord 
Dunmore at Alexandria early next spring, on the fol- 
lowing conditions and authority. 

"First, That your Excellency will give me a com- 
mission to act as major commandant of such troops 
as I may raise, and embody on the frontiers, with 
a pov/er to command to the westward and employ 
such serviceable French and English partizans as I 
can engage by pecuniary rewards or otherwise. 



CONNOLLY'S PLOT 141 

''Secondly, That yomr Excellency will give orders 
to Capt. Lord, at the Illinois, to iremove himself, 
with the garrison under his command, from Fort 
Gage to Detroit,*^ by the Anabache [Wabash], bring- 
ing with him all the artillery, stores, &c. &c. to fa- 
cilitate which undertaking he is to have authority to 
hire boats, horses. Frenchmen, Indians &c. &c. to 
proceed with all possible expedition on that rout, as 
the weather may occasionally permit, and to put him- 
self under my command on his arrival at Detroit. 

''Thirdly, That the commissary at Detroit shall be 
empowered to furnish such provision as I may judge 
necessary for the good of the service, and that the 
commanding officer shall be instructed to give every 
possible assistance in encouraging the French and In- 
dians of that settlement to join me. 



*® There has been considerable controversy over the site of 
Fort Gage, local tradition having long placed it on the east 
bank of Kaskaskia River, opposite the town. This appears to 
have been the actual site of an early French fort, known only 
as Kaskaskia, which was burned in 1766; and of Fort Gage, 
a later American fort, occupied in the first years of the nine- 
teenth century. The British Fort Gage, however, was situated 
in the village itself, on the west bank of the river, in the 
southeastern portion of the town. When Captain Lord was 
obliged to abandon Fort Chartres (1772), he removed the gar- 
rison to Kaskaskia, and occupied the house that had belonged 
to the Jesuit missionaries, which he stockaded and called Fort 
Gage. This was the stronghold captured by George Rogers 
Clark on July 4, 1778, The name was thereafter changed to 
Fort Clark. 

Lord removed the garrison and most of his effects from Fort 
Gage to Detroit in May, 1776, leaving Philippe de Rocheblave 
in command, without a garrison. It has been assumed that 
Lord's retirement was due to Carleton's desire to concentrate 
and cut down expense. May not this project of Connolly and 
its failure account in at least some measure for the abandon- 
ment of the Illinois ? — Ed. 



142 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

''Fourthly, That an officer of artillery be immedi- 
ately sent with me to pursue such rout as I may find 
most expedient to gain Detroit, with orders to have 
such pieces of light ordnance as may be thought re- 
quisite for the demolishing of Fort Dunmore and Fort 
Fincastle, if resistance should be made by the rebels 
in possession of those garrisons. 

''Fifthly, That your Excellency will empower me to 
make such reasonable presents to the Indian chiefs 
and others, as may urge them to act with vigor in 
the execution of my orders. 

"Sixthly, That your Excellency will send to Lord 
Dunmore such arms as may be spared, in order to 
equip such persons as may be willing to^ serve his 
Majesty at our junction, in the vicinity of Alexan- 
dria, &c. &c. If your Excellency judges it expedi- 
ent for the good of the service, to furnish me with 
the authority and other requisites I have mentioned, 
I shall embrace the earliest opportunity of setting off 
for Canada, and shall immediately dispatch Lord Dun- 
more's armed schooner, which now awaits my com- 
mands, with an account of what youT Excellency has 
done, and that I shall be ready, if practicable, to join 
your Lordship by the twentieth of April, at Alex- 
andria, where the troops under my command may for- 
tify themselves under my cover of the men of war on 
that station. 

"If, on the contrary, your Excellency should not 
approve of what I propose, you will be good enough 
to immediately honor me with your dispatches to the 
Earl of Dunmore, that I may return as early as pos- 
sible. 



FRONTIER CONDITIONS 143 

THE FRONTIERS, EARLY IN 1776 

[Summary of conditions on the frontiers in the first months 
of 1776.] 

The Virginia Convention met at Richmond Dec. 1, 
1775, and adjourned to WiUiamsburgh, where ses- 
sions were held until January 20, 1776. The 
raising of troops occupied a large part of the time; 
arrangements were made to settle the accounts of 
Dunmore's War, and private claims to the fort at 
Pittsburgh were adjudicated.*^ 

jMeanwhile according to the reports of the trader, 
John Dodge,-'^ the British commandant at Detroit was 
urging the Western Indians to war upon the American 
frontier settlements. Sometime in March, a French- 



*7 See minutes in Amer. Archives, 4th series, iv, pp. 75~ii2. 
The claims against the government for Fort Pitt grew out of 
the purchase made in 1772 by Alexander Ross and William 
Thompson of the buildings of the fort, when it was abandoned 
by the British garrison. — Ed. 

48 John Dodge was born in Connecticut about 1749. In 1770 
he entered the Indian trade and settled in the Wyandot vil- 
lages on the Sandusky, where he acquired considerable in- 
fluence over the savages. Charged with leaning to the colon- 
ists' side, he was arrested in January, 1776, confined at Detroit, 
and finally sent a prisoner to Quebec, whence he escaped m 
1778 and made his way to Boston. He was received with cor- 
diality by Gates and Washington, and Congress noticed his 
case; granting him a compensation in land for his losses at 
Sandusky. Having visited Virginia he made the acquaint- 
ance of Jefferson, who appointed him Indian agent for the 
Illinois country. After his arrival in Kaskaskia, he became 
the leader of the military party in that county, and was ac- 
cused of peculation and arbitrary violence with the inhabit- 
ants. After 1782 he dominated the settlement, having seized 
and fortified a commanding site. In 1787 he removed to Ste. 
Genevieve on the Spanish side of the river and died m that 
vicinity in 1794. See C. W. Alvord, Cahokia Records (Spring- 
field, 111., 1907), pp. xcv-cxx, xiv.— Ed. 



144 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

man named Lorimier,^^ who had large influence with 
the Western Indians, left Montreal in company with 
two Englishmen to visit the upper country and secure 
adherents for the British.^^ 

Reports of this activity on the part of the British 
gave great uneasiness to the Western settlers, now 
beginning to seek the rich cane-lands of Kentucky, 
and cultivating the Virginia valleys leading to the 
Ohio. Want of ammunition was one of the difficul- 
ties, and in May, George Gibson and William Linn 
led an expedition down the Ohio, in order to procure 
supplies of powder from New Orleans. ^^ 



*9 Peter Lorimier (Laramie, Lorimie) was a French trader 
who about 1769 established a trading house on the west bank 
of the Great Miami, since called from his name Lorime's 
Creek. He was a prominent interpreter and Indian agent for 
the British during the Revolution and successive Indian wars. 
In 1778 he was one of the party that captured Daniel Boone. 
In 1782, Clark's expedition rifled his post, when he narrowly- 
escaped personal capture. He remained in the British service 
until about 1793, when with a considerable band of Shawnee 
he removed across the Mississippi, and was appointed an offi- 
cer in the Spanish service. — Ed. 

50 Amer. Archives, 4th series, v, p. 417. — Ed. 

^1 For the result of this expedition see post, 1777- 

George Gibson was a brother of John, being born in Lan- 
caster County, Pa., in 1747. Entering a mercantile house in 
Philadelphia, he made several voyages to the West Indies as 
supercargo. Early becoming interested in Western lands, he 
received a large patent on the Cumberland in 1768. At the 
outbreak of the Revolution he raised a company around Fort 
Pitt, where his battalion was known as "Gibson's Lambs," 
and reinforced the Virginia line. His venturesome expedition 
to New Orleans {1776-77) brought him promotion, and he 
joined Washington's army as colonel, serving in the Jersey 
campaigns. Retiring to his home in Cumberland County 
(Pa.) he became county lieutenant and in that capacity led 
out a regiment to re-inforce St. Clair, and was killed in the 
Indian battle of 1791. 

Col. William Linn was born in Warren County, N. J., in 
1734. In his youth he removed to western Maryland and took 



A COMMISSION 145 

At Fort Pitt, Captain Neville was occupied with 
garrison duties and Indian negotiations. An expedi- 
tion against Detroit was considered by Congress, up- 
on the suggestion of Gen. Charles Lee, seconded by 
Washington; but in the multitude of affairs the pro- 
ject was lost sight of, and because of insufficient 
means was dropped.**^ 



A CAPTAIN'S COMMISSION 

[Virginia Committee of Safety to William Harrod. 
4NN27 — D. S.] 

The Committee of Safety for the Colony of Virginia. 

To William Harrod ^^ Gentleman — By Virtue of 
the Power and Authority invested in us, by the Dele- 



active part in Forbes's campaign (1758), being wounded in 
McDonald's expedition of 1774. When George Gibson en- 
listed his rifle company (1775), Linn went with him as first 
lieutenant. He also joined Gibson's New Orleans expedition, 
performing the difficult exploit of bringing a considerable sup- 
ply of powder up the Mississippi and Ohio to Pittsburgh (see 
post). In 1777 he was out with Foreman's party, but by his 
sagacity escaped the massacre, bringing the news of the de- 
feat to Forts Shepherd and Henry. The next year, Linn joined 
George Rogers Clark's expedition, took part in the Kaskaskia 
campaign, and settled a station not far from Louisville. In 
1780 he was colonel of militia in the Indian campaign of that 
year, but was shot and mortally wounded by Indians near his 
home, March 5, 1781. — Ed. 

^^ See Journals of the Continental Congress (Washington, 
1906), iv, pp. 301, 318, 373; also Amer. Archives, 4th series, 
vi, p. 403 ; and Penna. Colon. Records, x, p. 525. — Ed. 

^3 For a brief sketch of William Harrod, see Dunmore's 
War, p. 68, note 14. The commission is issued on a printed 
form, the words here printed in ItaHcs being written in the 
blank spaces. The signatures are autographs. — Ed. 
10 



146 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

gates and Representatives of the several Counties and 
Corporations in General Convention assembled, we, 
reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patrio- 
tism, Fidelity, Courage, and good Conduct, do, by 
these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Cap- 
tain of the Militia of the District of West Augusta; 
and you are therefore carefully and diligently to dis- 
charge the Trust reposed in you, by disciplining all 
Officers and Soldiers under your Command. And we 
do hereby require them to obey you, as their Captain. 
And you are to observe and follow all such Orders 
and Directions as you shall from Time to Time re- 
ceive from the Convention, the Committee of Safety 
for the Time being, or any superior Officers, accord- 
ing to the Rules and Regulations established by the 
Convention. 

Given under our Hands, at Williamshurgh this 7*^ 
Day of March Anno Domini 1776. 

John Page 
Dudley Digges 
P. Carrington 
Tho^ Lud. Lee 
Jos. Jones 
Thomas Walker''* 



'5* Members of the committee of safety, who were in charge 
of the executive department of the government until the elec- 
tion of Patrick Henry as first governor of the state of Vir- 
ginia, June 29, 1776. This committee consisted of eleven mem- 
bers, those in office at the time of this commission being 
chosen by the convention on Dec. 16, 1775. All had previously 
served on the committee, save Joseph Jones of King George 
County, and Thomas Walker, who replaced George Mason and 
Carter Braxton. — ^Ed. i 



AT DETROIT 147 

INFORMATION REGARDING DETROIT 

[Unsigned letter. 3U580.] 

Detroit 2d April 1776 
Detroit is garrisoned by 130 Soldiers of the 8^^. 
reg^ commanded by Cap^ Richard Berenger Ler- 
noult,^^ the soldiers seen indifferant about the pres- 
ent unhappy Disputes. An attack has been long sus- 
pected From Fort Pitt and Fasines prepared for De- 
fence of the Citadal. at present there is none sus- 
pected for this season, a Serjant and 12 men mounte 
guard in the town, and A Corporal and 4 men in 
the Citidal, half their number are centries. Supplies 
of amunition and provisions are received from canada 
By the way of Niagara, of the Former there is about 
a Tun of Powder, ball And Shott in proportion, of the 
Latter Sufficient to next August or Sept^. The French 
are desirous of remaining neuter, there is no Noblesse 
among Them to stir them up. the English are in 
General well disposed, there is two Priest [s], one 
on the S E side of the river (a Jesuit Pere Poutie) 
the other In the Fort (a Recolet Pere Semple)'^^ 

55 Henry Hamilton arrived as lieutenant-governor, Nov. 9, 
1775; Lernoult was, however, in charge of the troops of the 
garrison until sometime in the summer of 1776. — Ed. 

•58 Pere Pierre Potier was born in Belgium in 1708, entered 
the Jesuit order when twenty-one years of age, and came to 
America in 1743. After a year spent in studying the Huron 
language, he was sent to re-inforce the Huron mission at De- 
troit. This mission had been established at Pointe de Montreal 
(now Sandwich, Ont.) by Pere de la Richardie. Upon the lat- 
ter's retirement, Potier became superior of the mission, minis- 
tering to both Huron converts and French habitants. During 
Pontiac's conspiracy, he is thought to have furnished useful 
information to the British garrison. As a philologist he ac- 
cumulated material on the Huron grammar, and left a con- 



148 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

The Millitia are Embodid, but not Deciplined or Exer 
cised. their number is about 350 which includes aU 
able To bear arms, their Cap*^ are Piere Reaume 
Joseph Bundes, Jacque Campeau, Bap* Chapaten,^^ 
Phillip Dijean,^® and James Sterling,^^ their intention 



siderable body of manuscripts — see Thwaites, Jesuit Relations, 
Ixix, Ixx. His death in 1781 was due to an accidental fall. 

Fere Simple (Simplicus Bocquet) was priest of the church 
of St. Anne, 1754-84. This, the first church buih at Detroit, 
was placed iDy its founders under the care of the Recollects, 
and was thus maintained until after the Revolution. Father 
Simple was at his post during Pontiac's conspiracy, and at the 
time of the Revolution was spoken of as an excellent, kind- 
hearted old man. — ^Ed. 

^"^ All these were prominent members of Detroit French fam- 
ilies. The first Pierre Reaume came with his brother Hya- 
cinthe to Detroit before 1726. Many descendants of both 
branches spread over the Northwest. Capt. Pierre Reaume 
was dismissed from the service before 1778, but continued to 
reside in Detroit some time thereafter. 

Joseph Douaire de Bondy came to Detroit from Montreal 
about 1730. His son Joseph married at the former city in 1758, 
was still captain of mihtia in 1778, and was on the tax roll of 

1799- 

The Campeaus were a prominent Detroit family, whose pro- 
genitor came to that place as an armorer as early as 1710. 
Jacques Junior married in 1760 Catharine Menard. He had 
resigned his captaincy by 1778, and Jean Baptiste Campeau 
had been appointed in his place. 

The first Jean Baptiste Chapoton came to Detroit in 1718 
as "surgeon to the garrison. His son, born in 1721, was active 
in interceding with Pontiac in 1763. A petition of 1769 shows 
him as a prominent merchant. He resigned his captaincy be- 
fore 1778, and was freely accused of sympathy with the Amer- 
ican colonists. — Ed. 

^^ Philip de Jean was probably born in France, coming to 
Detroit as merchant shortly before the English conquest. Be- 
coming a British subject he was appointed (1767) justice of the 
peace, and is said to have served the interests of the military 

89 James Sterling came to America with the British forces 
during the French and Indian War, and served as commissary 
under Haldimand in iJSg-^o. At the close of the war he 
settled in Detroit, where he married into a French family, 



AT DETROIT 149 

are To Remain neuter. The Savages are wavering, 
and divided, Frequent Councils have [been], and are 
held with them, By the commanding officer asisted 
By Jehu Hay Indian Agent at this place, they are 
desired to Opose Any Body of men that may penetrate 
into their Country, this is All that has transpired 
and it does not appear that any general Combination 
is Formed among them. There is two armed Schoon- 
ers On the Lake Bellonging to the Crown, mounting 
12 Six pounders each, the Largest the General Gage 
is commanded by James Andrews,^^ the other the 
Dunmore Is commanded by David Bolton, Besides 
these, there is two Schooners and two Sloops bellong- 
ing to Cap* Alexd'^ who commands the whole Naval 



commandants while acting in that capacity. In 1779 he was 
on his way to re-inforce Hamilton at Vincennes, when he was 
captured by a force sent out by George Rogers Clark, and 
with others sent a prisoner to Virginia. Having accepted a 
parole in October, 1779, he visited the Illinois, and was de- 
sirous of communicating with his family in Detroit. The con- 
duct of the British authorities exasperated De Jean, who re- 
solved to live no longer under English rule, whereupon he vis- 
ited France, and in 1786 was naval agent of that government 
at New London, Conn. The French Revolution involved him 
in serious financial difficulties, and having retired to the West 
Indies he died a prisoner on the island of Jamaica in 1795. 
These biographical details, derived from the Draper MSS., 
are believed to have been hitherto unpublished. — Ed. 



and became the chief merchant of the place. His knowledge 
of Indian languages gave him government employ as inter- 
preter, and his popularity with the French led to his being 
chosen militia captain. Later (i777)» he was suspected of 
sympathy with the Americans, deprived of his office, and sent 
to Canada to give security for his conduct. — Ed. 

60 Capt. James Andrews was a lake captain in the North- 
west as early as 1773. He was highly recommended by Gx:)v- 
ernor Hamilton in 1778, being promoted to command the ship- 
ping on Lake Ontario, an office which he held until his de- 
cease, late in 1780 or early in 1781. — Ed. 



I50 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Department, and one Sloop bellonging to Messrs. 
M^Tavish and M^Beth^^ William Rinhen [?] Com- 
mands one of the Sloops called the Angelica^- the 
others are At present without Masters. To man the 
whole there is 30 Seamen and Servants, among that 
number are very few seamen and not one Gunner, 
they are generally disatisfied with the Service, and 
will make a poor resistance. The Vessels commands 
the Fort, which is only defended by a Stocade of 
Picquets about 9 Feet out of the earth, without Frize 
or ditch. The Picquets are mostly cedar, and gener- 
aly Sound. There is about 20 Boats at the place cap- 
able of car[rying] [Ms. torn] Barrels each, and 
boards Sufficent to build 60 more. 

The armed Schooners are at Fort Erie^^ (an In- 



61 Simon McTavish was one of the fur-traders who founded 
the North West Company. Coming early to the West, he was 
in 1782 enrolled as a citizen of Detroit. Later, he made his 
home in Montreal, directing the affairs of the fur-trade in so 
able but arbitrary a manner that he became known as "le Mar- 
quis." After founding a large fortune through what was es- 
sentially a trade monopoly, he died at Montreal in 1804. 

George McBeath was likewise a Scotchman prominently 
identified with the Northwestern fur-trade. One of the found- 
ers of the North West Company, he operated largely in Wis- 
consin, with headquarters at Mackinac, making himself useful 
to the British commandants at the latter post. In 1783 he ac- 
companied Charles de Langlade to Prairie du Chien to hold 
a conference with the Indians and announce the Peace of 
Paris. — Ed. 

62 The "Angelica" was wrecked on the lakes in the autumn 
of 1783.— Ed. 

«3 Fort Erie, at the lower end of Lake Erie, on the west 
bank of Niagara River, was built in 1764 by Capt. John Mon- 
tressor, who prepared the way for Col. John Bradstreet's ex- 
pedition to Detroit. During the Revolution it was maintained 
chiefly as a supply depot. It was rebuilt at intervals (1778, 
1790, 1807), and during the War of 1812-15 was an important 
factor in the British-American contest. After a spirited de- 



AT NIAGARA 151 

significant [fort] garrisoned by 20 Men) during the 
months of may and June, one of them once took all 
the others, with Detroit and Michilimacinack falls 
Presguile^* is only Ninety miles from Fort Erie. 



INDIANS VISIT NIAGARA 

[Summary of printed documents in Amer. Archives, 4th series, 
V, pp. 815-820.] 

In a letter of Richard Butler ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ p^j.^ pj^t, 
April 8, 1776, he states that Kiasola^^ with two mes- 



fense during August and September, 1814, the Americans blew 
up the fort upon their departure in November. The ruins re- 
mained until i860 or later. The Canadian government has 
since rebuilt and regarrisoned this fort. — Ed. 

^*Fort Presqu'isle was built (1753) on the site of the 
present Erie, Pa., by a French expedition under the leadership 
of Captain Marin. In 1758 it was greatly strengthened, but 
upon the capture of Forts Pitt (1758) and Niagara (i759) was 
abandoned by the French and secured by the British. The 
English garrison at this point fell victims to Pontiac's conspir- 
acy in 1763; and here, the following year, Bradstreet held a 
conference with the tribesmen. The fort was not rebuilt dur- 
ing the Revolution ; but in 1793 Wayne reared a block-house 
on this site, and here he died ( 1796) two years after his great 
victory. A garrison was maintained here until the breaking- 
out of the War of 1812-15, when Erie became an important 
naval station, being the harbor whence Perry's fleet issued for 
the battle of Lake Erie. The naval station was not finally 
abandoned until 1825. — Ed. 

65 Gen. Richard Butler was born in Ireland in 1743. When 
quite young his father brought him to Pennsylvania, where he 
grew up in the Cumberland Valley. About 1770, with his 
brother William, he embarked in the Indian trade at Fort Pitt. 
A partisan of Pennsylvania during the boundary disputes, But- 
ler did not serve under Dunmore, and was opposed to all of 



6« Kiasola is another form of the Seneca name Guyashusta, 
for whom see ante, p. 38, note 65. — Ed. 



152 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



sengers from Colonel Butler/^ commandant at Ni- 
agara, came to Fort Pitt recently, with a letter to 
Captain McKee. As Kiasola was determined to go t<i 
Niagara, i\gent Butler sent him off with several mes- 
sages intended to secure the Indians, especially the 
Delawares, in their neutrality. 

The Indians aire alarmed at the exorbitant price of 
goods, which Agent Butler explains as occasioned by 
the war. 

April 9, he continues his letter, with news of the 
arrival of John Gibson, with several Shawnee, who 
come bringing in white prisoners, according to the 
agreement at the treaty of 1775.^^ 



Connolly's measures. After the Fort Pitt treaty of 1775, he 
was appointed by Congress as Indian agent at Fort Pitt, an 
office held by him until May, 1776, when he was superseded by 
George Morgan. In July of the same year, Butler was made 
major of the continental line; becoming lieutenant-colonel in 
1777, he became one of the most efficient Revolutionary offi- 
cers, serving, however, largely in the Eastern army. At the 
close of the war he retired with the brevet of brigadier-gen- 
eral. In 1784 he was chosen superintendent of Indian affairs, 
commissioner for several Indian treaties, and while second in 
command of St. Clair's army, fell in the battle of November, 
1 79 1. — Ed. 

6^ Col. John Butler was a native of Connecticut, who early 
removed to the Mohawk Valley, and became a trusted assist- 
ant of Sir William Johnson, acting as interpreter in Indian 
councils, and as leader of war-parties in the French and In- 
dian War. On the outbreak of the Revolution he adhered to 
the Royalist side, and was left in New York by Sir John John- 
son when he retired to Canada, in charge of the affairs of the 
Six Nations. In 1777 he enhsted a company of rangers that 
devasted the New York frontier, took part in the battle of 
Oriskany, and led the raid against Wyoming (1778). It is 
said that his conduct on that occasion lost him the honor of 
knighthood. After the Revolution he retired to Canada, re- 
ceived a pension from the government, and died at Niagara in 
1794.— Ed. 

68 See ante, p. 126. — Ed. 



IN KENTUCKY 153 

The Indians complain of a survey made recently 
by Col. William Crawford for John Harvie and 
Charles Simms,'^ of an island below Pittsburgh, that 
is claimed by John Montour. 



ALARM IN KENTUCKY 

[John Floyd to Col. William Preston. 33S291 — transcript 
made by Draper.] 

Powell's Valley,^^ ist May, 1776. 
Dear Colonel — We have been much discouraged 
on the way by alarms &c, but on our arrival here find 
the greatest part of the news to be false. I met so 
many people removing in, as I went down Holston 
that I thought it best to leave my negro wench & her 
child on the way. I need say nothing about the mis- 
chief that has been done, as M^ Lee, brother to Willis 
Lee, who is killed, can give you a history of the whole 



69 John Harvie was a son of Thomas Jefferson's guardian, 
who lived at "Belmont" in Albemarle County, Virginia. The 
younger Harvie represented West Augusta district in the Vir- 
ginia conventions of 1775 and 1776, and in May of the latter 
year was chosen one of the Indian commissioners for the 
Middle Department. Later he was a member of the Conti- 
nental Congress, and had charge of the prisoners captured at 
Burgoyne's surrender, whom he quartered near his home in 
Albemarle. Through Jefferson's good offices Harvie was ap- 
pointed register of the land office at Richmond, whither he 
removed at the close of the Revolution, and where he was 
mayor in 1786. He died at his home, "Belvidere," near Rich- 
mond, in 1807. His wife was a daughter of Gabriel Jones, the 
well-known Augusta County lawyer. 

For Col. Charles Simms see Dunmore's War, p. 317, note 
34- — Ed. 

"^0 For Powell's Valley see Ihid., p. 4, note 6.— Ed. 



154 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

that may be relied on.'^^ We are all well, & are 6 
in number. M^ Todd^^ overtook us last night. * * * 
Capt. Martin's compliments to you. 

Jno. Floyd.'^^ 



''1 Willis Lee of Fauquier County, Virginia, visited Kentucky 
in 1774 with his cousin, Hancock Taylor, and other surveyors 
(see Ihid., p. 23), and was wounded when Taylor was killed. 
Lee recovered, and returned to Kentucky the following year, 
laying out the site of Leestown, a mile below Frankfort on the 
Kentucky River. The brother to whom Floyd refers was Han- 
cock Lee, under whom George Rogers Clark was engaged as 
surveyor for the Ohio Company (1775). Willis Lee visited 
Kentucky in 1773, and again in 1774 when he joined McDon- 
ald's Wapatomica expedition. Having built cabins at Lees- 
town, that had been attacked by Indians (see post), he was 
now returning to Virginia. — Ei?. 

'''2 Gen. Levi Todd, born in Pennsylvania in 1756, was edu- 
cated in Virginia, and went to Kentucky with Floyd in 1776. 
In 1777, he was first clerk of Kentucky County, and the next 
year was a lieutenant in Clark's Kaskaskia expedition. After 
the taking of that town he went on a secret mission to the 
Spaniards across the river, and then escorted Clark's prison- 
ers to Virginia. In 1779 he commanded a company on Bow- 
man's expedition, and in the autumn of that year laid out a 
station ten miles above Lexington, but soon removed to the 
latter place as more protected, and was one of the first lot- 
holders of that town. In 1782, as major of militia, he col- 
lected a force to relieve Bryant's Station, and took part in the 
battle of Blue Licks, wherein his brother fell. All his life in 
public employ, he became a brigadier and finally a major-gen- 
eral of militia. From the time of the organization of Fayette 
County, he was clerk of the court, and a member of both Dan- 
ville conventions to agitate the new-state movement. He died 
at his home in Lexington in 1807, leaving a large family. One 
granddaughter became the wife of Abraham Lincoln. — Ed. 

■^3 For Capt. Joseph Martin, at whose house Floyd no doubt 
wrote this letter, see Dunmore's War, p. 235, note 64. For 
Floyd, Ihid., p. 9, note 13. — Ed. 



, TROUBLE PREDICTED 155 

PROTECTION FOR THE FRONTIER 

[Patrick Lockhart to the chairman of the Botetourt commit- 
tee. 1U16 — A. L. S.] 

Williamsburg 14*11 May 1776 
Sir — Cap^ John Gibson who arrived here yesterday 
Informs us that there is a great ProbabiHty that they 
Wayndott Taway & other Indians will be Trouble- 
some on our Frontiers this Summer. They have been 
to the De Troit & Rec<^. Presents from the Command- 
ant there; an application was made to the Convention 
& a Supply of 500^^ Gunpowder is ordered for your 
County which will be forwarded with all Possible Des- 
patch also Barr Lead is to be Procured ' from Chissells 
Mines ^* & I hope that if they should Attempt any 
thing on our Frontiers that Perhaps the Inhabitants 
will endeavor to Repel them; I shall apply in the 
Morning to the Committee of Safety who is to send 
the Gunpowder to the Care of your County Com- 
mittee & Expects they will write you in rega/rd to 
it I also beg leave to inform you that a Resolve is 
past in the Convention that the Money Collected to 
Purchase Gunpowder &c. is to be return'd to the Re- 
spective Persons that paid it & any Ammun[it]ion Fur- 
nished is to be a Public Charge therefore I think 
it might be returned the People at any time that there 
was an Opportunity on their Producing the Rec*^ 
given by the Collectors. 

I am Sir your m^ H^^^ Serv* 

Pat Lockhart ^^ 



74 For location of these mines, see Ibid., p. 52, note 90. — Ed. 

'^'^ Patrick Lockhart was a prominent merchant of Botetourt, 

who represented his county in the Virginia legislature of 1776. 



156 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

N. B. ]V'P' Gibson reports that the Shanese & Dela- 
wares does not seem to have any Hostile Intention 
against [us]. 



P. L. 



The Chairman of the Committee of Botetourt. 



[Col. William Preston to Col. William Fleming. 1U18 — 
A. L. S.] 

May the 30th. 1776 
Sir — I am Just Favoured witli Yours of the 27*'* 
covering a Copy of a Letter from Cap* Lockhart to 
the Chairman of Botetourt Committee. 

Should the Tawaws, Wyandots & those Tribes be- 
yond the Ohio break out, this County and the Inhabi- 
tants on Greenbrier will be in a distrest Situation; 
But if the Shawnesse & Delawares &,Mingoes do not 
Join them, I can hardly think they would undertake 
a, War at so great a Distance. However, be that as 
it will, it is our Duty to endeavour all we can to be 
prepared foir the 1 worst. The Supply of Ammunition 
given by the Convention will be a great encouragement 
to the People on the Frontiers who were intirely des- 
titute of that Article.^^ 

Tho' the Supply Granted by the Convention will be 
a great Relief ; to the Frontiers, yet I cannot conceive 



His name appears as late as 1789 in the annals of that state, 
serving as trustee for erecting towns, as member of the James 
River Improvement Company, and as major of militia for his 
county. — Ed. 

^6 The omitted portions deal with the outbreak of the Cher- 
okee, and the preparation for war in the Southwest. — Ed. 



TRO UBLE PREDICTED 1 57 

that it will be sufficent in case of a War, which we 
ought at all Events to be prepared for. Therefore 
I am of Opinion it would be imprudent not to lay up 
a larger Stock of Powder, and of Course that the 
Collection ought not to be refunded, at least for some 
time. Should there be no Occasion to use the Powder 
in our Defence, it will at a future Day sell for -the 
same, or nearly so, that it costs ; then the Money may 
be returned & no Man Injured except by laying a 
little longer out of a very triffle. Should there be 
Occasion to use it for the General Defence of the 
Country, then the Public will Refund the Money to 
the Committees who can readily repay it to the People. 
These Steps I hope will be taken by our Committee, 
and I would fain hope will be adopted by Yours. 

I expect a Man toNight or toMorrow from the 
lower Settlement of Holston for Powder If he brings 
any Interesting News I shall Communicate it to you, 
and shall always be glad to Co-operate with you in 
every Measure that may be for the Safety and Pro- 
tection of the Frontiers. 

I have • some Intention of going to Botetourt next 
Week, if I go down, I shall do myself the Pleasure 
to spend an Evening with you, when we can talk those 
Matters fully over, & fix on some general Plan for 
the Defence of the Frontiers untill Instructions can 
be rec^ from the Committee [of safety], to whom I 
have forwarded all the Int [Ms. torn] I rec^ from 
the Westward. In [the mean] time beleive me to be 
D^ Sir 

Your sincere Wellwisher & hble serv* 

W°^ Preston 



158 REVOLUTION ON UFPER OHIO 

GARRISON FOR POINT PLEASANT; INDIAN 
AFFAIRS 

[Summary of printed documents.]'^'' 

George Morgan writes to Lewis Morris, May 16 
1776, from Pittsburgh, where he has just arrived to 
supersede Richard .Butler in the conduct of Indian 
affairs. Capt. Matthew Arbuckle'^^ with a company of 
Virginia troops left Fort Pitt, May 15, for < the Great 
Kanawha. The Seneca Indians are to be suspected, 
and Morgan .fears that an expedition from Niagara 
is being planned against Pittsburgh, because the carry- 
ing place ( portage) ^^ has been lately reconnoitred. 
In June he expects several Seneca chiefs,^" with 
Shawnee and Dela wares, and hopes for deputies from 
the Wabash confederacy.^^ 

May 31, 1776, Morgan wrote to the commandant 
at Detroit to the effect that he had heard of letters 



77 The following summary is compiled from Amer. Archives, 
4th series, vi, pp. 474, 475 ; and Joseph H. Bausman, History of 
Beaver County (N. Y., 1904), p. 70, which contains extracts 
from Morgan's letter-book preserved in the Carnegie Library, 
Pittsburgh. — Ed. 

''8 For a brief sketch of Capt. Matthew Arbuckle, see Dun- 
more's War, p. 103, note 49. — Ed. 

''^ The carrying place, or portage, here referred to, would on 
first thought be that between Erie (Presqu'isle), Pa., and 
French Creek, where old Fort Le Boeuf had stood. This por- 
tage, however, was thirteen miles in length, so that probably 
Morgan had in mind the Chautauqua portage, which although 
rougher is shorter; about nine miles by the old road cut by 
Celoron in 1749. — Ed. 

*o See description of negotiations by Seneca chief, post. — Ed. 

81 The Wabash (Anabache, Ouabache) confederacy con- 
sisted of the various branches of the Miami tribe situated on 
that river, together with the remnants of Mascoutin and Kick- 
apoo tribes that had settled near old Fort Ouiatanon, on the 
upper Wabash. — Ed. 



BLACKSNAKE'S NARRATIVE 159 

having been sent to him that had not reached Fort 
Pitt. He informs his correspondent that no colonial 
army is now on the march to Detroit; but the fron- 
tier settlers are prepared to defend themselves should 
the Indians attack them. . 



CONFERENCE AT FORT PITT 

[Blacksnake's account of a visit to Pittsburgh. i6Fiog-ii4.]*^ 

When I was about fourteen years of my age**^ I 
have than , taken more Notice of our chiefs councils 



S2 The following account is taken from the life of Gover- 
nor Blacksnake, dictated by him in 1845-46 to Benjamin 
Williams, a partially-educated half-breed, at Dr. Draper's re- 
quest. As it is impossible to verify the dates, the account is 
inserted at this point as probably referring to the conference 
which Morgan says he expects with three Seneca chiefs; this 
meeting must have taken place some time in the summer of 
1776. The document is interesting as giving an Indian's recol- 
lections of the sort of conferences held at Fort Pitt during 
this season. The spelling and phraseology have a decided 
aboriginal cast. — Ed. 

83 Blacksnake was a Seneca chieftain, born in pre-Revolu- 
tionary times, but still living in 1850, when Dr. Draper visited 
him at his home in Cold Spring, Cattaraugus County, N. Y. 
The latter secured a highly-interesting and valuable interview 
with the aged chieftain, who said that he was born two years 
before Johnson defeated the French at Fort George (i755), 
and that he recollected his capture of Niagara (i759)> as well 
as the Devil's Hole massacre (1763). He was appointed war- 
chief at the Oswego treaty (i777), and took the war-path 
against Fort Schuyler, being in the battle of Oriskany, the 
raids on Wyoming, Cherry Valley, Canajoharie, Schoharie, 
etc. In 1784, Blacksnake attended the treaty of Fort Stanwix, 
and afterwards visited Congress at New York and met Wash- 
ington. During the Indian war of 1790-95, Blacksnake kept 
neutral, and abided by the treaty of Fort Harmar (i789), 
which he had signed under another name — Blacksnake not 
being his customary appelation until 1812. During the War 
of 1812-15, he assisted the Americans against the British.— Ed. 



l6o REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

affairs, at that times my Recollection than [then] 
was • good. Especially the importand Subject and 
Views of the many Differance Nations and tribes of 
Indians Residance of one Body, , 

In the month of April, 1763 [1775] the messenger 
from Albany arrived at avone, to Notify to our chiefs 
to attendans to a convention to be held at Pittsbough, 
for the purpose for communicating, with the Six Na- 
tions of Indians, Concerning of the Difficulties Ex- 
sisted Between their own , Birother great Britain and 
America. Supose in order to understanding Between 
Americans and the Indians &c. 

Cornplanter and Redjackett^* was the head men 



84 Cornplanter and Red Jacket were two of the best known 
Seneca chiefs, the former a warrior and a promoter of civili- 
zation, the latter an orator and an advocate of old Indian cus- 
toms. They were, therefore, frequently in opposition, al- 
though in the early period of their lives they acted in con- 
cert. 

Cornplanter (or John O'Bail) was a half-breed, son of an 
Irish trader and a Seneca mother. He was born in the Seneca 
country and belonged to the Wolf clan. In the Devil's Hole 
massacre (1763), Cornplanter was near by as a guard. He 
finally joined the British cause, was made war-chief at Os- 
wego in 1777, and took part in the battle of Oriskany and the 
raids on Cherry Valley and Wyoming. In 1779 he com- 
manded raiding parties, one of which attacked Fort Freelands, 
while the other was defeated at Brady's Bend. In the follow- 
ing year, he captured his own father in a Canajoharie raid, 
but at his request quickly released him. Having signed the 
Fort Stanwix treaty of 1784, he became somewhat unpopular 
with his tribe and visited New York to treat for an under- 
standing regarding the land sales. He was accorded a grant 
on the Allegheny River, seventeen miles above Warren, where 
he estabhshed a farm, built a saw-mill, and devoted himself 
, to the elevation of his people, particularly preaching abstinence 

'^ from intoxicating liquors. He died on his farm in 1836. 

) Red Jacket (or Sagoyewatha — he who keeps them awake) 

was born near Geneva, N. Y., about 1750. His first participa- 
tion in public affairs occurred in the Revolution, where he op- 




Governor Blackcnake 



Seneca chief. After a photograph in the possession of the 
Wisconsin Historical Society 



BLACKSNAKE'S NARRATIVE i6l 

among the Seneca chiefs and other Nations of Indians 
connected with the Iroquois, they again Called the 
Second time to be held a council for to appoint Dele- 
gation to attend the convention at Pittsbough and to 
Re-consideration on the important Subject all the 
Six Nations and other Nations which is not included 
as to be belonging to the six Nations all met, at avone 
a long house^^ Redjacket & Cornplanter Both had 
considerable influence amongst all others tribes and 
they concluded themselve it would be Necessary for 
them to attend the Pittsbough Convention according 
to invitation So all consented of the Differant Na- 
tions to Each one make their own appointments to 
Delegations to the convention to be held at Pittsbough 
Chiefs and Warriors, and I was particularly invited 

posed taking the hatchet against the colonists. He was, how- 
ever, overruled by the majority, and took part in the affairs at 
Oriskany, Wyoming, Chemung, and Canajoharie. He was said 
to have sent messengers to SulHvan requesting peace during 
the latter's raid (1779). He declined to attend the treaty of 
1784, but afterwards visited Washington and was presented 
with a medal, which now belongs to the Buffalo Historical 
Society. In both the Indian war of 1790-95, and in that of 
1812-15, he sided with the Americans. In his latter years, 
Red Jacket dwelt near Buffalo, and being addicted to intem- 
perance was deposed from his chieftainship in 1827. He died 
three years later, and in 1884 his bones were re-interred at 
Buffalo, where a monument has since been reared to his mem- 
ory. — Ed. 
/ 85 The village which Blacksnake here designates as Avone, 
was usually known as Canawaugus. It was the most northerly 
of the Seneca villages, and was located on the west bank of 
Genesee River in Livingston County, Avon township, nearly 
opposite the sulphur springs of Avon. The population was at 
one time estimated at almost a thousand, probably an exag- 
geration. Relics of the council house could be seen at this 
place as late as the middle of the nineteenth century, although 
the town was raided by Sullivan's men in 1779. — Ed, 
11 



l62 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to go long with them, this is the Early part of the 
Spring the year, 1763 [1775]. So we went to work 
to make preparations to Start and provides that who 
is to stay at home, with in a few Days was already 
and Several chiefs and warriors Started from Avone, 
and take westerly Course to strik[e] and Came into 
about Eight miles above the mouth of the Buffalo 
Creek into lake Erie and we travellerd on lake Shore 
and went on up as fars Erie village in Pennsylvania®* 
was then But a few house this village one or two 
Stores and a tavern and provision stores and thence 
from this place South and we Came into a stream 
above now called midville®^ and thence on Down 
french oreek empdies to Allegany River, So on Down 
this stream Several Days traval before we Came out 
to the mouth of this creek, there was But three or 
four log cabins of white people first settlers at the 
mouth of this creek ®^ there we made a stop and Camp 

S6 Then known as Presqu'isle; see ante, p. 151, note 64. — Ed. 

37 Meadville, Pa., not then established ; Blacksnake here 
speaks from later knowledge. The site of Meadville was an 
early fording-place on French Creek, and there are traditions 
of a French store-house at this place, but not a permanent 
fort. In 1788 it was explored by the brothers Mead, and a 
block-house built, the nucleus of the present town. — Ed. 

^s The site of Franklin, at the junction of French Creek 
with Allegheny River, was first occupied by an Indian village 
wherein was built a trading-house by John Frazer, a Pennsyl- 
vania trader. When the French took possession of the coun- 
try in 1753, they drove out Frazer, and raised the French flag 
over his place, as reported by Washington in his journal of 
that year. The following spring Fort Machault was built, and 
held a garrison until 1759, when the capture of Fort Duquesne 
and the attack on Niagara forced the French to destroy their 
fort and retire. The next year (1760) the English built Fort 
Venango, forty rods higher up, which was maintained until its 
complete destruction by the Seneca in Pontiac's conspiracy 
(1763). Fort Venango was not rebuilt during the Revolution. 




Cornplanter 

S hawne e chief. Otherwise kno-wn as Gyantwahchia, Jchn 
Abeel, John O'Bail, and John the Cornplarter. After a 
photograph in the possession of the Wiscomsin His- 
torical Society 



BLACKSNAKE'S NARRATIVE 163 

out Near this Neighborhood for Several Days, for 
Building Bark Canoes to go Down the River with 
them as fars Pittsbough while we Stayed at this 
white Neighborhood, the oldest man use to visit us 
and Bring Bread timber for us to Eat and we use to 
give him every time fresh vension we get Some time 
five or Six Deer Every Day, while we Stayed at this 
place, untill we got our Bark Canoes was Built suffi- 
cient to Carry our Number Down Stream So we 
Saile on Down stream on the Allegany River, this 
was got to be about the fall the year 1763 [1775]. 
So we made stop 7 miles from Franklin over winter 
at now called big Sandy Creek^^ in the spring 1764 
[1776] on the first Day on Jouirny from Big sandy, 
we arrived at Pittsbough. Several white men Came 
to See us, on the Same afternoon • the News went to 
the Commissioners Ears that we are Come, and he 
visit it us that Evening and he made induced himself 
to us, for acquaintance Cornplanter and Redjackett 
Several others chiefs of the Several Differant Nations 
of Indians proper Delegates, and we conversed with 
the Commissioner and he told us the object holding 
a meeting and he wishes to have it opened meeting 
on the Next morning immediately after Brackvest and 
made appointment a certain ground to meet, and he 



The cabins of which Blacksnake speaks must have been soon 
evacuated, as the Indians grew hostile, and no white people 
lived on this site until 1787, when Capt. Jonathan Heart built 
Fort Franklin, a half mile up French Creek. This fort was 
dismantled in 1796, but a garrison was maintained until 1803 
on the site of the town, which was laid out in 1795. — Ed. 

®^ This stream, flowing through Mercer and Venango coun- 
ties, comes in from the west, about eleven miles below Frank- 
lin. — Ed. 



l64 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Set several men to work at it for the Seats in open 
f [i]eld, the Next morning after Brackvest and called 
together, uncle complanter give the Company advice 
to hold one minde and appoint Redjackett for Speaker 
in the meeting and made all prepaired on our part and 
we went on the ground, there was a large number 
asambled, and one of the officers give us a seat in the 
mid of it. the Commissioner appeared and Called to 
order he first Said the Commissioner we the white 
people has been long Desirous to have you to met with 
us, for the purpose of to make known to you, Broth- 
ers, we considerated necessary for us to let you Know 
and to make you acquainted our circumstances and 
the Difficulties Existed Between America and the King 
of great britain the great Britain government use us 
bad and the American people endeavours to have free- 
dom to Built up our own government the King ordered 
his armies and warriours to fight us, we are therefore 
would use my utmost Endeavours to great a Number 
of our Red Birethren the Six Nations, and others to 
not Join Either Party for we Determint that we Shall 
have freedom and independant Nation from the Brit- 
ish government if posibly can and let us fight it out 
our liberty for we will laid Down our lifes for our 
independence and freedom and we feel interst and 
Desirious in your wellfairs that you would continue 
hold on as independent Nations of your people and 
not to lift it your hands against America or great 
Britain because he and me alone got into Difficulty 
and wishes you to Stand notual [neutral] and be Peace 
to all your White Brethren and if we should lost our 
liberty, than we always be under the great Britain 




Red Jacket 

Seneca chief. Indian name, Sagoyewatha. After a litho- 
graph in the possession of the Wisconsin Historical 
Society 



BLACKSNAKE'S NARRATIVE 165 

government we are poor the King is Rich But God 
look upon us if we are a Right he would help us to 
again our liberty and we are outh [ought] to look to 
him for our favours, this we shall Endeavour to Do, 
and would be glad of your advice and assistance to 
Communicate it, the Same with your people at home, 
and in Broad among your Red Brethren, this object 
amost important to have all understand before hand 
&c. this is only the Substance of the Commissioner 
Said in this convention, and about intermission at noon, 
in the afternoon got [tog] ether again and there was 
more people assembled as it was fornoon, before this 
we have Consulted the manners the Commissioner had 
use to his advise, then the commissioners called to 
order and Ready to Receive the answer 

Redjackett given answer 

Brothers we are suppose you are Ready to hear 
the answer we will make of you We are Indians and 
Citizens of this Island God made us here to habited 
and grewed large a Number and give us all we Need 
it, to enjoyed, and we have Several large a Number 
of our Red Brethren, and Never had yet wars Diffi- 
culties, to any worth while to mention our maker pro- 
tect it us through lives and provides us all Collors 
of his children are under heavens, we all Now give 
thank to God who guard us gether together this Day, 
and had clean Ears to hear you speaken to us and un- 
derstand it which we acknowledge it is important to 
hear to we therefore would take your a word and 
advice with us to our people and laid the subject be- 
fore them, Because we are not authorize or power 



l66 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to Completed the object, therefore would leaved it to 
our people, the Business Shall be Done by majority 
of them Before we Should make our Determination 
To upon any important Business, Although all in our 
Number that are here agreed to use all the influence 
over our people at home to go into this effect and we 
Should endeavour to Do all can and we Shall Send 
you a Delegation to carried the answer which our 
people will make, Soon after passed their opinion on 
the subject 

Commissioner Reported 

^'Brothers and friends, we Desire you will hear and 
Receive what we have now told you, and that will 
open a good Ear and listen to what are now been 
Said to you this is a family quarrel Between us and 
old England, you Indians, are not Concerned in it, 
we don't wish you to take up the hatchet [for] the 
King's troops, we Desire you to Remain at home, 
and not join Either Side : But keep the hatchet buiried 
Deep, in the name and behalf of all our people, we 
ask and Desire you to love peace and Maintain it and 
love and Sympathize with us in our troubles that the 
path may be Kept open with all our people and yours 
to pass and Repass without molestation, Brothers we 
live on the same ground with you, the Same Island 
is our common birthplace we Desire to sit Down 
under the Same tree of peace with you, &c. &c. this 
is all I have to Say, To a wanted what I have said 
before noon and I feel satisfied what you have Said 
in answer you made, &c. and wish you this afternoon 
to take a walk with me and visited to a new garrison. 



DEFENSE OF FINCASTLE 167 

So we all went with him, there was only a few 
Regular warriors in garrison and a few pieces of 
cannons and Balls for them the United Commissioner 
ordered us to go to provision Store to get what we 
wanted while Stayed in the place. Near at Night 
Returned to our Camp at the mouth of monongahella 
and the Next morning we made preparation to Start 
for home about at noon we got Ready to Start, Some 
of our Bark canoes we away. 3 canoes we Kept for 
to Keep our provision in as we came up the River 
and Some of us Come on foot and Some pushing up 
our canoes up stream, we came on about 10 miles 
that Day, and we Kept a going Every Day and Came 
the month of June 1764 [1776] at avone on Genesee 
River 



DEFENSE OF FINCASTLE COUNTY 

[President Edmund Pendleton to Col. William Fleming. 
1U19 — L. S.] 

Williamsburg June 2otli. 1776. 
Sir — Pursuant to the Resolution of the General 
Convention, you are to direct the March of one Com- 
pany of your militia, with the proper officers without 
delay to the County of Fincastle, there to be em- 
ployed as a Ranging Company for the defence & pro- 
tection of the Inhabitants, they are to carry with them 
Ammunition and Provisions Sufficient to last them to 
the place of Rendezvous, appointed by Colonel William 



l68 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Russell, who is to command the whole. For and by 
order of the Committee of Safety. I am, Sir 
Your obed^ hble Servant 
Edw^ Pendleton P [resident] ^° 
County Lieut: or Commd Officer of the Militia of Botetourt. 



[Col. William Fleming to Capt. William McClenechan. 
1U21 — A. L. S.] 

Botetourt County 
Sir — Agreeable to the Resolve of Convention and 
in consequence of Orders Received from the Honoura- 
ble P/resident to me directed, as County Lieu* of Bote- 
tourt ordering one of the Militia Companies of this 
County properly Officered to March immediately to 
Fincastle County to be imployed as Rangers under 
the direction and Command of Col*^ W°^ Russell. 
You are therefore to March immediately with the first 
and Second Devisions of your own Company or Vol- 
unteers equivalent. You are to be Joined by draughts 
from Cap* Armstrongs, Cap* Lockhearts Cap* Crockets 
& Cap* Robinsons ^^ Companies to form Your Com- 
mand to Fifty Rank and file exclusive of Serg*^ & 
Drummer You are to march with all Expedition to 
Fincastle County and Join the Troops at the General 
Rendezvuse Appointed by Col^ Russell on Holston 

®o Edmund Pendleton was a prominent Virginia statesman 
(1721-1803), president both of the convention of 1776 and of 
the Virginia committee of safety. As such he was chief 
executive officer of the state until the election of Patrick 
Henry, first governor, in July, 1776. — Ed. 

®^ For the captains of the Botetourt militia in 1774, see Dun- 
more's War, pp. 44, 45. — Ed. 



DEFENSE OF FIN CASTLE 169 

You are to take what provisions will Serve Your Com- 
pany to Cap* Madisons on New River ^^ who will Sup- 
ply You with what is Necessary for your further 
March. You will take care to keep your Men Orderly 
on the March and for their own Credit I expect they 
will behave in a Soldierly Manner by keeping sober, 
being Alert on Duty and paying a proper Obedience 
to all Necessary Commands of their Officers I hope 
you will be in Readiness to March from the Lick on 
Monday Next with the draughts of your own & the 
Companies below you the Men of Cap* Crocketts & 
Robinsons Companies are to Join you at M^ Kents. 
I am Sir Your most Hble Serv* 

William Fleming C: L* 



To Capt. William McClennachan 



July 16 1776 



[Capt. William McClenechan to Col. William Fleming. 
3ZZ23 — A. L. S.] 

Hands Meadows July 24: 1776 
Sir — I this day Marched to the above place with- 
out the Least difficulty My Men all in high spirits; 
but am greatly disappointed in Regard to the draughts 
of Capt. Crocketts and Capt. Robinsons companys— — • 



92 For Capt. Thomas Madison, see Dunmore's War, p. 59, 
note 99. — Ed. 

93 Capt. William McClenechan (McClanahan) was born in 
Ireland in 1733. He came to Botetourt County (now part of 
Roanoke) from North Carolina, and settled on an upper 
branch of the Roanoke, southeast of the present Salem. He 
died in 1819. Big Lick lay about two miles north of his place, 
and was the point of departure mentioned by Fleming. — Ed. 



I70 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

the former five, and the Latter only four : I have seven- 
teen in my own including a serjant. Capt. Lockharts 
draught nine including a serjant from the same Capt. 
armstrongs are nine men amounting to forty one pri- 
vates and tho My Company is not Compleat thought 
it proper to march with all Expedition and hope my 
intentions will meet with your approbation. 

I am informed this day by Capt John Bowman^* of 
a battle fought on holston within four miles of the 
Big Island between a party of Indians amounting to 
about one hundred and fifty and a party of our men 
the savages had on their side killed on the field four- 
teen and our Loss is only four wounded the above 
battle was fought on the twentieth of this Instant®'' 
for further particulars Refer you to Cap* Bowman and 
am sir 

Yours 

W™ M^^Clenechan 



®*John Bowman was born (1738) in Frederick County, Vir- 
ginia, son of George Bowman, whose wife was a daughter of 
the earliest settler of that region, Joist Hite. John visited 
Kentucky in 1775, and in the summer of 1776 was at Har- 
rodsburgh, where he served as one of the committee of safety 
(June 15-20). He must have been on his return trip at the 
time this letter was written. In the autumn of this year 
(1776) Bowman was chosen colonel of Kentucky militia, and 
led thither a company for the defense of the country, arriving 
in August, 1777. In 1779 he led an expedition into the Miami 
country, which, however, accomplished little beyond devasta- 
tion of Indian crops. In 1781 Bowman became sheriff, and 
county-lieutenant of the newly-erected Lincoln County. He 
died at his home in that county. May 4, 1784. — Ed. 

»^ This is an accurate contemporary account of a battle fam- 
ous in Western annals, known usually as that of Big (or 
Long) Island on Holston. For the official report see Amer. 
Archives, 5th series, i, p. 464; see also Roosevelt, Winning of 
the West (New York, 1889), i, pp. 286-290.— Ed. 



SIX NATIONS NEUTRAL 171 



REPORT FROM NIAGARA; NEUTRALITY TO BE 
MAINTAINED 

[Summary of printed documents in Amer. Archives, 5th series, 
i, PP- 36, 37.] 
A conference was held at Fort Pitt, July 6, 1776, 
upon the return of Guyashusta (Kiasola) from Ni- 
agara. Several Delawares and Shawnee were pres- 
ent as well as Capt. John Neville and his officers, 
Major Trent,^° Major Ward,^"^ and several other in- 
habitants. Guyashusta reported that on his way to 
Niagara he was stopped at Caughnawaga^^ for nearly 

96 Major William Trent was born in Lancaster, Pa., about 
1715. He was in the Pennsylvania service in King George's 
War (1744-48), and as early as 1749 was employed as a con- 
fidential Indian agent. In 1752 he formed a fur-trading part- 
nership with George Croghan, and two years later acted as 
Virginia commissioner at the treaty at Logstown, thereafter 
visiting the Miami tribe to confirm the treaty. In 1754 he 
was commissioned to raise a company and take possession of 
the forks of the Ohio, whence he was driven by the French. 
Trent accompanied Forbes's expedition in 1758, and the fol- 
lowing year was in the Indian service under Sir William 
Johnson. As a trader he lost heavily during Pontiac's con- 
spiracy, but was re-imbursed at the treaty of Fort Stanwix 
(1768). At the outbreak of the Revolution he adhered to the 
patriots' cause, and was commissioned major, but died in 
Cumberland County in 1778. — Ed. 

97 Edward Ward was closely associated with Trent and 
Croghan, being a half-brother of the latter. While ensign 
(1754), he surrendered the forks of the Ohio to the French. 
In 1756-57 he served as Heutenant, and the two following 
years as captain of the ist Pennsylvania battalion, taking part 
in Forbes's campaign. After the war he was Indian agent for 
several years, making headquarters near Pittsburgh, where 
he had business interests. In 1774 he was justice of the peace 
and in 1775 a member of the committee of safety for West 
Augusta. In 1776-81 he served as a magistrate of Yohogania 
County, living opposite Pittsburgh as late as 1787.— ^Ed. 

98 Caughnawaga was a prominent Mohawk Indian village 
located northwest of Fonda, in Montgomery County, New 
York. It was the site of the martyrdom of Father Jogues in 



172 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



a, month, by messengers from Col. John Butler, who 
wished him to await the arrival of the Detroit Indians^ 
After reaching Niagara the Seneca chieftain was told 
that the conference was finished, but having insisted 
upon speaking with the Biritish commandant, he in- 
fomied him that the Six Nations were determined to 
take no part in the war between Great Britain and 
America. He likewise informed the officers at Fort 
Pitt that the Six Nations had intrusted him with the 
care of their territory in that region, and that they 
would not suffer either a British or American army to 
be marched through their lands, and desired that no 
expedition against Detroit be undertaken. Captain 
Neville thereupon assured the Seneca that the Ameri- 
cans would not attempt to march an army through 
his country, without acquainting him thereof, unless 
they should hear of a British army advancing against 
them. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 

[Col. William Preston to the President of the Committee of 
Safety. 4QQ64 — A. L. S.f 

FiNCASTLE Augt, 2^. 1 776 

Sir — I am favoured with your Letters of the 25*^ 
and 26^^ of July covering an Order of Council re- 



the seventeenth century, and was destroyed by the French 
Governor Tracy in his invasion of the Mohawk country in 
1666. By the time of the Revolution all the region north of 
the river was known as Caughnawaga, and Dutch settlers had 
largely invaded the territory. In the raid of 1780 the Dutch 
settlement of Caughnawaga was burned. This Mohawk Val- 
ley town should not be confused with the Indian mission of 
that name in Canada. — Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 173 

quiring me to Order a Lieutenants Command to the 
Lead Mines and to have a stockade fort erect [ed] 
there. I would beg leave to inform you that CoP 
Russell, fully sensible of the Importance of that Place, 
on his first coming up, and on hearing of the Approach 
of the Enemy, ordered a Lieutenant and thirty Men 
to the Mines ; and on his finding the nearer Approach 
of the Savages in large Bodies; and having intelli- 
gence from the Traders who Escaped from the Indian 
Towns that they intended to attack that Place,®^ he 
wrote to me tO' Order a Captain there and Augment 
the Party. This I immediately complied with; but 
before the Captain got [to] the Place a Comp^ 
of the Bedford Militia, who had been called out 
had taken Post there and do now Garrison the 
Fort which was built round the Works by the 
Militia, the Country People & Chiefly by Col^ CoUa- 
ways^ People There is now a Sufficent Party to 
guard the Works and cover the Workmen when out. 
The Party of Fincastle Militia that had been there I 
ordered out to the relief of the Inhabitants on Hols- 
ton. The greatest part of the Way from Wattawgo 
to the Mines is Mountainous & uninhabited, so that a 
large Party of the Enemy might easily get in by that 
Route. Therefore it was Judged that a full Company 
was but barely Sufficent to guard that Place.^ 



»8 This refers to the Cherokee Indian outbreak.— Ed. 

1 This was Col. James Callaway, son of William, who was 
active in the defense of the frontier during the French and 
Indian War. James was a resident of Bedford County, ap- 
pointed by the state to superintend the lead mines and secure 
their product for the government. — Ed. 

2 The omissions relate to the news from the Southwest, and 
preparation for the Cherokee expedition. — Ed. 



174 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

The only thing that can retard the raising of Men 
in this & Botetourt; is a general Apprehension 
amongst the People that the Shawnesse Delawares &^ 
will surely break out. Could there be any assurance 
that these Nations would not strike this Season I be- 
lieve a great Body of Militia could be raised in these 
Counties for this Service. But be that as it will, I 

have no doubt of raising the Number required. 
******** 

Be assured Siir that nothing in my Power Shall be 
wanting to forward this very Necessary Service; and 
that I shall with Cheerfulness comply with every Or- 
der I receive from your Hon^^® Board. 

I am your Honours most Obed. & very hble serv* 

W°^ Preston 



[Col. William Fleming to Col. William Preston. 4QQ65 — 
A. L. S.] 

D'^ Sir— M^ May^ did not return from Bedford 
till Tuesday, on Wednesday & Thursday I was abroad, 
prevented me writing you sooner. M"^ Lynch* had 
no powder but promises to be in your County directly, 
where he expects to make 50^^^ a daye. Henry Paul- 
ing^ was here this Morning, immediately from Your 
County, and as he brings nothing new, I am in hopes 



' For a sketch of this pioneer see Dunmore's War, p. 21, 
note 34. — Ed. 

* Charles Lynch of Bedford County, who was a delegate to 
the Virginia convention of May-July, 1776, and appointed by 
that body to prepare gunpowder for government use. — Ed. 

^ For a brief biographic sketch of Pauling see Dunmore's 
War, p. 187, note 33. — Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 175 

the first fire of the Indians is extinguished & that the 
Checks they have met with will be Attended with the 
good effect of hurrying them home. What we can do 
in case of an Attack in Botetourt for want of Powder 
I really know not, as only 100^^ ^f ^j^^t was sent us, 

is good for any thing and of that I spared as 

much as I possibly could to the Men for your County. 
Pauling informs me, You have now a sufficiency of 
Men, & that he heard no complaint for Powder. My 
D'^ Sir no commands of Yours, nor anything in my 
power for the preservation of your County shall ever 
be deemed a trouble. By the Presed*^ of July 25*^ 
I am ordered to raise 150 men out of this County to 
Assist in an Expedition against the Cherokees. they 
are to march to the big Hand on Holston River, then 
to be under the Com*^ of L* Co^ Russel till an Officer 
can be appointed to command the whole Force intended 
for that expedition. On Monday Next I meet the 
Field officers to proceed to the Appointment of Offi- 
cers for the Above purposes. I understand 50 men 
are ordered from Augusta & some considerable num- 
ber from below. It is repotrted by Letter from Point 
Pleasant that two prisoners have been delivered up at 
Pitsburg lately taken by a party of Mingoes. and that 
the Shawnise sent them up. I imagine they must 
have been taken on the Kentucke.® Cap* Arbuckles 



6 These were twin sons of Andrew McConnell, who after- 
wards fell at Blue Licks (1782). The father was a Pennsyl- 
vanian who had lived for some five years in Westmoreland 
County. In 1775 he planted corn and built a cabin at Lee's 
Station, and the next winter sent for his family. Some time 
in June, 1776, Mrs. McConnell sent a bound boy and her two 
sons, Adam Baxter and William Barber, to bring up the cows 



176 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Officers & Men will proceed very soon to the Point. 
As to the Expedition I can say nothing being a 
Stranger to the Plan. I am well convinced that carry- 
ing the War into the Nation, is the only way to se- 
cure our Frontiers and make us respected, but I wish 
it may be conducted on such a Plan that we may not 
depend too much on the Efforts of Carolina, but be 
enabled to Act independent of them. I had an Op- 
portunity of lately seeing Our Acquaintance from the 
Westward, he is unhappy in having any Misunder- 
standing between him & you, and sincerely desires a 
reconciliation. Some little inadvertencies, I hope he 
will clear up, if he has not already which may restore 
that harmony which formerly existed. It is a misfor- 
tune to square our actions alone, firom even the Vati- 
can liberary. He knows not that I ever designed to 
mention anything to you. I am D^ Sir sincerely 
Your Friend. And 

Most hble Serv^ 
WiLL°^ Fleming 
Augt 2d. 76 



to be milked. The skulking Mingo party killed the bound 
boy and captured one twin, while the other hid. At the sight 
of his brother's distress, the lad gave himself up. When the 
boys reached the Shawnee towns with their captors, they were 
recognized by Joseph Nicholson i^see his mission, post), who 
knew their father. He purchased the lads for a rifle, and 
they returned to Pittsburgh under the care of Col. George 
Morgan, who sent them to their uncle William McConnell, 
then in Westmoreland County. The boys were in captivity 
about sixty days. The above information was secured from 
their sister, Mrs. Ezekiel January, and is in Draper MSS., 11 
CC. See also Pennsylvania Packet, Aug. 20, 1776, post. — Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 177 

[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ1— 
A. L. S.] 

Greenbrier August 2^ 1776 
Sr. — I have this Morning heard that Cap<^ Van- 
biber^ hath yesterday Rec^. Notice there is a Large 
Number of Indians Discovered makeing for our 
frontiers, this news hath been handed to me from 
Vanbiber by Report from hand to hand that makes it 
out of my power to give a perfect account of the 
Truth of it, but as there is a great probability there 
is two Much Certainty in it I thought as our people 
is in a Defenceless Situation it was Necessary to 
give you this Notice, we are at a great loss for 
men as well as amunition to such a Degree that with- 
out Some Immediate Relife (of Boath should this 
Report be True I am persuaded our Country will be 
Soon Layd Waste. I hope you'l think proper to 
Order so many of Militia to our Assistance as you'l 
think Sufficent I thing [think] there ought to be 



'■ John and Peter Van Bibber were of Holland ancestry and 
removed from Pennsylvania to Maryland, finally settling 
(about 1771) in the Greenbrier region of Botetourt County. 
John made an early exploration of Kentucky, passing down the 
Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans. In 1773 he was one of 
a small party of surveyors who explored the Great Kanawha, 
and left his name on a cliff below the falls, still known as 
"Van Bibber's rock." Both brothers took part in the Point 
Pleasant campaign (1774), where a third brother, Isaac, was 
killed. After this, both served as captains in the militia. 
Peter had a block-house on Wolf Creek, which was an im- 
portant frontier outpost. About 1781, the two brothers moved 
into the Kanawha Valley, and Peter died at Point Pleasant 
in 1796; John in 1821. Peter's sons Matthias and Jacob were 
noted in later border warfare, and his daughter married a son 
of Daniel Boone. The reference here may be to either of the 
brothers, John or Peter. — Ed. 
12 



178 REVOLUTION ON m'PER OHIO 

three Companys Made up at least for this frontier 
that is one on Indian Creek on Muddy Creek and in 
the Leavels^ under such proper officers as you Shall 
think fit to appoint to the Command of them, may 
be a means of saving many from Distruction. I shall 
in the mean Time do Every thing in my power to- 
wards puting ourselves in a poisture of Diffence 
untill I have an Answer from you, & I am Much 
affreid our people being Divided into so many small 
Companys which consist Chiefly of mariryed men &C 
(the Best of our young men being Taken by Cap* 
Arbuckle) will now make the Turn Difficult for us 
to Embody to make a good Defence, and should our 
people pen themselves in little Forts as formerly 
they did it will be the Readyest method of having 
themselves Distroyed. N[e]ither do I know there is 
any method of preventing them from doing so, un- 
less you should order the Officers of the Militia 
to Draught a party out of Each C^. to make one 
proper fortification for the Deffence of the whole, 
that is in Different Quarters. I have here 100^^. of 
powder which was Ordered to the point half of which 
I shall Detain untill I hear from you as I understand 
Cap* Arbuckle is well Supplyed. I hope you'l do 
what you think Best with all Expedition. I am, S^ 
your Ob. Humb® Serv*. 

John Stewart® 

On the Publick Service 

To Colo. William Fleming Botetourt 

8 For these locations see Dunmore's War, pp. 181, 319, notes 
25, 37. Indian Creek was an affluent of New River, where 
was a ford used by Indian parties. — Ed. 

» For a brief biographical sketch of Stuart, see Dunmore's 
War, p. 104, note 51.— Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 179 

[Col. William Fleming to Capt John Stuart. 3ZZ1 — Draft 
in Fleming's handwriting.] 

Sir — Yours by W°^. Huggen I have Just received 
I perceive that mine has not reached you. I think 
it highly Necessary that the Inhabitants should have 
places of defence prepaired to which they may retire 
in case of Necessity And these Forts placed as cen- 
trual as conveniences will Allow, for which purpose 
I would have you fix with the Approbation of the 
other officers of the Comp^. on some place the most 
suitable to the People who may be supposed to take 
Shelter there and build a Fort. You are therefor 
to take what part of your own Comp^. & Cap* Browns 
is necessary & effect it as soon as possible. I am apt 
to think that the Indians discovered on Walkers 
Creek ^'^ making this way, may be a party of the 
Western Tribes on their way home from the Chero- 
kee Nation, that Jerrit Williams gave information, 
of being there.^^ However the above step will Al- 



i<^ For Walker's Creek, see Ibid., p. 56, note 96. 

11 Jarret Williams was an Indian trader, also an inhabitant 
of the Watauga settlement before 1773. In Dtmmore's War 
he enlisted in Capt. Evan Shelby's company, and at its close 
resumed his trade with the Cherokee. In June, 1776, he es- 
caped from their towns, and brought word to the frontier set- 
tlements of the invasion which the Cherokee were preparing. 
His testimony is published in J. G. M. Ramsey, Annals of 
Tennessee (Philadelphia, 1853), pp. 148, 149. He therein says 
that fifteen of the Northern Indians were at the Cherokee 
towns with a war-belt, and a party went out to strike the set- 
tlers in Kentucky. This is the party which Fleming suggests 
may have caused the alarm on Greenbrier. Williams was 
reimbursed by the North Carolina legislature for his losses by 
the Cherokee War, to the amount of £100. He went out in 
1778 as lieutenant of Clark's Illinois regiment, and received 



i8o REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

lay the Apprehensions of the Inhabitants. I shall be 
expeditious in sending you Assistance I propose 
sending out a Sufficient Number to repell them in 
case of an Invasion. You are to have your Comp^. 
prepaired in the best manner you can for defence. 
And if the Enemy penetrates into the County take 
what Number you think proper of them, and call in 
the neighboring Capt^ to your Assistance and on a 
Junction proceed in Quest of the Enemy Tomorrow 
I meet the Field Officers, w^hen, what is further neces- 
sary will be concluded on. I shall take every 
Method in my power to get a supply of Powder. 
And expected before this that Cap* Vanbiber would 
have brought in 300^. If he or any other Powder 
Maker has any, I wish it would be procured. I have 
wrote to the President to get what was sent in from 
^msj^g exchanged for other that is good. Please to 
send Coppies of the Inclosed to your Neighboring 
Capt^. I think it proper to have an Eye on the foard- 
ings of New River, and if a few smart men were 
sent out to watch them from Culbertsons down to the 
Warrior's foarding it may be Necessary ^^ In other 
things that do not occur Act as prudence will derect 
you, — till you receive further Orders &c. 

W. F. 

Augt 4, 1776. 

To The Militia Officers on Green Brier— 
As we have the greatest reason to Apprehend an 

his share of the Illinois grant. He settled on Floyd's fork of 
Salt River, in Bullitt County, Kentucky, and passed there the 
remainder of his life. — Ed. 

12 For Culbertson's, see Dunmore's War, p. 76, note 25. 
For the Warrior's Ford, see Ibid, p. 322, note 40. — Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA i8l 

Attack on Our Frontiers, You are therefore to have 
your Respective Companies in the best order possible 
for Defence And on any sudden immergency You are 
to make a Junction with Cap*. Stewart with all the Men 
you can conveniently March to go in Quest of & re- 
pell the Enemy. In case of Necessity a Field Officer 
will be on the Spot to (regulate the Opperations. You 
are desired to send me immediate Notice on Your dis- 
covering the Enemy or of Murder or Mischief being 
done. 

F. 



[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ2, 3— 
A. L. S.] 

Greenbryer Augt. lotb. 1776 
Sir — Agreeable to your orders p^. W°^ Huggans, I 
have Draught'd Ten men from Cap*. Browns C^. & 
Ten from my Own, with which I expect to have a 
fort soon compleated at Camp Union, large enought 
to Contain the greatest part of the Inhabitants of 
these leavels, the men I shall continue in the Fort for 
Immediate protection untill you shall think fit to Dis- 
band them, and should you send out any more men 
for our assistance In case of an Invation, should hi 
glad thirty would be sent to Join the above Number 
to compleat the company, Twenty five of which I 
shall send under the command of a Lieutenant to 
Keep Cap*. Arbuckles old fort on Muddy creek, & 
alay the timidity of the people of that quarter. I 
should think another Lieutenants C^. on Indian creek 
& one more further up the Country would not be 



l82 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

amiss, with which number the fears of the people 
would be wholely assuaged & to which our own 
strength of militia ' could be readily Join'd, to Repel 
any considerable number of the enemy that may come. 
I am from the Report brought lately by some of Cap*. 
Arbucles men from the point much of oppinion we 
Shall be visited 'soon by our old neighbors, for whose 
Reception should they please to keep away a little 
while we will be middleing well prepared. Cap* Sam^ 
Brown hath undertaken to furnish the above men, & 
any other, that ' may come on this Quarter with pro- 
visions, a propeir account of he will keep, & dispose 
iS^H^ of the fith [sic] quarters &c of 'Beef which will still 
|u £t,,^-v^save some expense & can be done with [MS. torn] 
_^ than otherwise for which Trouble I expect he will 
be Allowed. I have sent out Jacob Lockhart^^ & 
♦t^ Josiah McDowell to watch the pass from below the 

— ^ Little Meadow River to the warior fording, & Ge^. 
^tM^-^^Davidson & W^\ Johnston to watch from Below the 
M CM^i&f^^ ^^ ^^^ Road towards the head of gauley,^* I 
f understand Vanbiber hath sent Two out to watch 

from the mouth 'of Greenbrier towards the head of 



Ui 



13 Jacob Lockhart was one of the early settlers on Green- 
brier, and accompanied Matthew Arbuckle on an expedition to 
the Indian towns to recover horses, some time before Dun- 
more's War. In the latter expedition, he served as a scout. 
He was killed by Indians shortly after the Revolution. — Ed. 

i*Two well-known Indian trails were covered by these 
scouts; the former came up the Kanawha, and then struck 
across the branches of Meadow Creek to the upper waters of 
the Muddy, an affluent of the Greenbrier. This route was fol- 
lowed by the invaders who attacked Donnally's Fort in 1778, 
and was the outward passage of Lewis's army in 1774. The 
Gauley River route, farther northeast, also led to the heads of 
the Greenbrier. — Ed. 



FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA 183 

paint creek/^ which I think is a sufficient number at 
preasent. I know of nobody nigh me that hath any 
Quantity of powder that can be Secured. I am told 
the [that] Cap*. Hendersons ^^ hath some, which I 
make no doubt their own prudence will direct them 
to Keep. I shall be expeditious in giving you notice 
on the appearance of any of the Enemy and am with 
Esteem ' 

Your Obed Humb^ Serv*. 

John Stewart 
N. B. Should you* think the above number of men 
necessary at preasant I think Cap. Donallys would be 
a proper place for one Division as it is convenient 
for a number of people & will cover a great many 
more.^'' ' , 

J. s. 

On publick Service Aug*. To Colf>. William Fleming 
Botetourt. 



1^ The western Indian trail around the narrows of the Great 
Kanawha led up Paint Creek, thence crossed Flattop Moun- 
tain, and came back to the main river near the mouth of the 
Bluestone. — Ed. 

1® John Henderson — son of James, who served in the French 
and Indian War — v/as born about 1737 in Augusta County. 
In 1765 he married Anne Givens, sister of Mrs. Andrew Lewis, 
and soon after removed to Greenbrier, where he established 
a homestead not far from Lewisburg. In 1774 he served as 
lieutenant under Captain Herbert, and became captain of 
militia until December 1776, when he resigned to enter Daniel 
Morgan's regiment as a corporal in Daniel Gregory's company. 
Leaving the army in April, 1779, he became justice of peace 
and died at his home in Greenbrier County in 1787. See West 
Virginia Magazine, April, 1905. — Ed. 

1'' Andrew Donnally was born in the north of Ireland, re- 
moving to America about the middle of the eighteenth cen- 
tury. He went out to the extreme frontier of Greenbrier, and 
built a blockhouse there in 1771 — about eight miles north cf 
the present Lewisburg. Donnally was a man of influence and 



i84 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

[Col. William Fleming to Capt. John Stuart. 3ZZ3 — Draft 
in Fleming's handwriting.] 

Sir — Yours I received by Cap* Donnaly. I think 
it may be prudent to keep a small Command of Men 
at the Fort on the levels when finished to preserve 
it. this is all that I have at present in my power to 
do. till we have more reason to Apprehend an Ac- 
tual Invasion, the Ordinance for that purpose limits 
me. but depend upon it as soon as I have, I will 
take every effectual Measure for the defence of Our 
Frontiers I am in hopes to have it in my power in 
a short time to send you a supply of Powder ' should 
it be wanted, in the meantime I desire you wilP en- 
deavour to quiet the Apprehensions of the People as 
they may depend on being effectually supported, I 
am Sir 

Your Hble Serv* 

Will™ Fleming 
Augt 24*11. 1776 



ability. In 1776 he was captain of militia, and in May, 1778, 
defended his fort against an Indian raid. He is reputed to 
have been lieutenant of Botetourt County (see West Virginia 
Magazine, July, 1901, pp. 52-56) ; but if so, he could not have 
been chosen until after the retirement of Col. WilHam Flem- 
ing, who held that office during the Revolution. In 1782 Don- 
nally was a trustee for the founding of Lewisburg; but some 
time after removed to the Kanawha Valley, where he lived 
first at Point Pleasant, then on Elk Creek, and later at 
Charleston. In 1789 and again in 1803 he represented Kana- 
wha County in the state legislature. He died at his Charles- 
ton home about 1825. The fort in Greenbrier was destroyed 
about the same time.— -Ed. 



AT FORT RANDOLPH 1S5 

NEWS FROM PORT RANDOLPH 

[Capt. Matthew Arbuckle to Col. William Fleming. 2ZZ78 — 
A. L. S.] 

Fort Randolph is August 15^11 1776 
Worthy Sir — As I am Infoirm'd Your Committee 
has had Some Complaints Laid in Against me By 
Some person About Sundry Affairs Transacted By 
me. In the first place worthy Sir View My Station 
So 'Remote from Advice or Councel from any of the 
Committee's, and Oblige'd to Act According As My 
own Weak Judgment Tell I Never have Rec^ any 
Positive Instructions from tlie 'Committee of Safety 
or Youir Committee Concerning My Enlisting of men, 
I have therefore wrote to the Committee of 'Safety 
Long Ago to have positive Instructions Concerning 
this point and have Rec^. none, then I Sent Officers 
to Get men Not willing to Leave this Garrison Lest 
the Indians Should Make a Break which I Did not 
Know But might Be Every hour, as there had up- 
wards of Fifty of My men Given Me warning Ac- 
cording to the Ordinance to Leave the Garrison At 
the Expiration of their Year, If ' I was Not to Get 
men in that time to Come to fill their Vacant places 
the Garrison Must of Course Break up and Either I 
misunderstand the Ordinance or it Sais there Shall 



18 Fort Randolph was built by Capt. Matthew Arbuckle in 
the early summer of 1776, to replace Fort Blair (see Dun- 
more's War, p. 310, note 2y), which had been burned by the 
Indians in 1775. It was erected about forty rods from the 
first fort, and held a garrison until the close of the Revolution. 
The name was no doubt given in honor of Peyton Randolph, 
for whom see ante, p. 66, note 97. — Ed. 



l86 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Officers Recruit men to fill the Vacont places that 
They ' May Be at the Station Before the men Leave 
it Lest those few that Remains Become a prey to the 
thirsty Savages and the Garrison Be Destroyd Not 
having a Sufficient Strength to Keep it against an In- 
human and fierce Enemy As Such I Look upon the 
Indians when at war But Worthy Sir, My Country 
Shall Never 'have to Say I Dare not Stand the At- 
tacks of the Indians or fly the Cause they are So 
Justly fighting for, on the Contrary I will Loose the 
Last Drop of My Blood in Defence of My Country 
when fighting for that Blessed Enjoyment Call^. Lib- 
erty and Should all the Indians Nations Join in Con- 
federacy and attack me here tho I 'had But Twenty 
men I would Defend it with My Latest Breath, and 
Glory In the Cause, and I am Willing when Call<^ on 
By Your Committee or any Other to have My Trans- 
actions Examin'd in the Strictest Manner. As to the 
Best of My Little Judgment I Act all I Can for the 
Safeguard of My Country and My own honour. I 
was Inform'd Some time Ago the Shanahs and Chero- 
kee's had taken 3 Women prisoners from Cantuckee 
and Got one Scalp,^^ I therefore Dispatch*^, three of 
My Men to Demand the three prisoners (If in pos- 
session of the Shanahs) to be Immediately Deliverd 
up two of the women were Daughters to Colo^ Cala- 
way at Cantuckee and the other a Daughter of Colo^ 
Boon's at Cantuckee Likewise and this Day the Men 



1^ The scalp was doubtless that of James Cooper, a Penn- 
sylvanian who first visited Kentucky in 1775. He was killed 
near Licking River, July 7, 1776. See Amer. Archives, 5th 
series, i, p. 1228. — Ed. 



AT FORT RANDOLPH 187 

are Return'd Again with one of the ' Shanah Chiefs 
and Brother of the Cornstalk's, Who Informs Me that 
After having taken the Prisoners from Cantuck the 
white's foUow'd and Retook the prisoners and Kill*^ 
two of their Men,^^ upon this I Inform'd them the 
fate of the Cherokee's and that our people would 
without Dispute Cut them all off which Seem to have 
a Great Effect upon them and they promised to hold 
to a Lasting peace But this I Dispute as they have 
Now the Cornstalk away at fort Detroit Treating 
with the English arid are Constantly Backward's and 
forward's, on that Course So that the peace with them 
I Look upon it not to Be Lasting and am Ever on 
My Guard for fear of a Surprise, and the Trader's 
Gets Ouantitys of Goods from the English at Detroit 
and has for Some time, As the Traders Inform'd My 
Men while at the Town's they had Rec*^ Sundry of 
Goods from thence for the Use of the Indians; So 
any Material Transactions that Occurs I shall Inform 
you And Remain Your Devoted Humble Servant to 
Command 

Matt'^ Arbuckle 



20 The capture and rescue of Jemima Boone, and Elizabeth 
(Betsy) and Frances (Fanny) Callaway is one of the thrilling 
tales of early Kentucky settlement. The girls were taken 
July 14, 1776, from a canoe just below Boonesborough, and 
hurried off to the northward across Licking River. Daniel 
Boone at once organized a rescue party, which caught up with 
the fugitives on the third day. The three girls were rescued, 
and two of the savages were shot, later dying of their wounds. 
Draper collected much material on this episode, which he em- 
bodied in his manuscript "Life of Boone," 4B 77-99. — Ed. 



l88 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 

[Transcribed by Draper from Pennsylvania Packet of August 
27, 1776. 16J27.] 

Philadelphia, Aug. 20, 1776. 
Saturday se'en night -^ George Morgan, Esqr. ar- 
rived in this city from the Westward : On the 9**^ ult*^ 
whilst at one of the Shawanese ■ Towns on the Scioto, 
he received intelHgence of three Six Nation warriors 
having passed by there with two prisoners they had 
taken sixteen days before-^ from Virginia. M^. Mor- 
gan followed and got to their town before them, pre- 
vented the usual punishment of the prisoners on their 
entry, and insisted on their being immediately deliv- 
ered up to him, unless they intended this breach of the 
peace as an open declaration of war. All the head- 
men of the Six Nations, Shawanese & Delawares, who 
were called together on this occasion, behaved in a 
very friendly manner, and joined with M^. Morgan in 
his demand made to these warriors, who soon com- 
plied therewith, and were promised forgiveness on 
condition of future good behavior. These warriors 
told M^. Morgan they had done no damage, except 
[unless] they killed a young man they shot at when 
tHey took these prisoners ; but he made his escape, 
though they believed the ball entered his breast. The 
prisoners are twin sons of Andrew M^Connell, late 
of Pennsylvania, who removed last winter to Lees 
Town on Kenruke [Kentucky] river, and were taken 
within a few hundred yards of the town. M^, Mor- 



21 August 3, 1776.— L. C. D. 
2* About June 24th.-T-L. C. D. 



INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 189 

gan brought them with him to Pittsburg, and deliv- 
ered them to their uncle in Westmoreland County in 
this State. 

Since then a small party of Shawanese returning 
from the Cherokee country, killed and scalped two 
persons near the Big Bone Lick; they were pursued 
by a few of the neighbors, who killed and scalped 
two of the Indians — the others escaped."^ This 
breach is also likely to ■ be settled to the satisfaction 
of all parties, as the headmen had expressed great 
concern at the conduct of their ' foolish young people, 
and promise to do all in their power to preserve our 
friendship. 

A treaty is to be held at Pittsburg with the Western 
Indians the beginning of October, when, it is hoped, 
they will listen to and follow their true interests as 
they have promised to do. 

Williamsburg V^. Aug. 17 — ^We understand from 
Fort Pitt that the Northern Indians are not disposed 
to attack us in that quarter, & have only engaged not 
to suffer [an army] to march through their country 
against Detroit; we may hope that there is not much 
to be dreaded from the terrible combination of In- 
dians we have been threatened with by our enemies. 



23 Reference to the killing of Cooper, and the capture of the 
Boone and Callaway girls, as described in the preceding docu- 
ment. — Ed. 



I90 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

THREATENED HOSTILITIES 

[Commissioners of Indian Affairs, circular letter to county- 
lieutenants. 1U34 — L. S.] 

Pittsburgh Augt. 31st. 1776 
Sir — ^We 'Yesterday Evening received Intelligence 
by a Gentleman from the lower Shawanese Towns, 
which is very alarming, a General Confederacy of 
the Western Tribes seems to have been form'd, in 
order to Strike our Frontier Settlements. The In- 
dians it is said wait only untill their scatter'd Young 
men can be call'd in, and the Corn be somewhat riper 
for their Subsistance before they take up the Hatchet. 
The danger of the Times demand that every meas- 
ure should be taken to defend ourselves from their 
Incursions and repel their attacks. We have sent an 
Express to Congress upon this occasion and have 
wrote to the Governor and Council of Virginia on the 
same Subject. We would not wish to alarm too much 
the minds of the People it must rest with you to 
intimate the News We have receiv'd to the Inhabitants 
of your County in such manner as you shall think 
most eligible and conducive to the Public Weal. We 
think it our duty to communicate to you and the other 
Lieutenants ' of the Neighboring Counties, the critical 
Situation of Indian affairs, their plan of Operation 
is that the Chippawas and Ottawas two numerous 
Tribes should attack this place, and the Shawanese 
the Settlements on this side the Ohio, a ' few days 
will evince their real Intentions, We Therefore Rec- 
ommend it to you in the strongest Terms to hold your 



MILITIA IN READINESS 191 

Militia in readiness to march properly accoutred on 
the shortest notice as the emergency ' of Affairs may 
require your immediate assistance. 
We are Sir y^. most Obcd. Serv*^. 

Thomas Walker 

Jno. Harvie 

John Montgomery 2* 

J. Yeates^'' 



2* John Montgomery was a Scotch-Irishman born in Ireland 
in 1722. About 1740 he emigrated to America and settled at 
Carlisle, where he was a successful merchant. In the French 
and Indian War he was commissioned captain in Forbes's 
army (1758), and was a prominent patriot leader in the early 
Revolution, in 1774 acting as chairman of the first committee 
from his county. In July, 1776, he was appointed by Congress 
to hold the treaty at Pittsburgh, and continued there until 
November. The next year he was colonel of a Pennsylvania 
regiment in the New Jersey campaign, and served in Congress, 
1782-83. He was justice of the peace for Cumberland County, 
and aided in founding Dickenson College, dying at his home in 
Carlisle in 1808. — Ed. 

25 Jasper Yeates belonged to a well-known Philadelphia fam- 
ily, and was born in that city in 1745. He was early admitted 
to the bar, and became an eminent jurist and member of the 
Pennsylvania supreme court (1791-1817). During the Revo- 
lution he resided in Lancaster, and was an active patriot, aid- 
ing the colonists both financially and with his legal knowledge. 
He was a member of the Pennsylvania convention that ratified 
the constitution, and was a commissioner for the government 
in the Whiskey Rebellion (1794). During his sojourn at Pitts- 
burgh- as Indian commissioner, he visited Braddock's battle- 
field and vividly described its appearance and his impressions 
(see Samuel Hazard, Register of Pennsylvania, vi, p. 104). 
Judge Yeates died at his Lancaster home in 1817. — Ed. 



192 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

PREPARATIONS TOR DEFENSE 

[Col. William Fleming to Capt. George Givens. 3ZZ4 — 
Draft in Fleming's handwriting.] 

Septi'. 2d 1776 
Sir — It is thought Necessary that a Compy. should 
march to the Protection of the Inhabitants of Green 
Brier. And as the Field Officers have Appointed you 
to that Charge, you will therefore immediately en- 
deavour to get the Comp^'. compleated, you are to have 
Lieut*. Beard from Cap*. Hanleys and an Ensign from 
Cap* Deans Comp^'. for Your Officers. You arc to Ap- 
point a Sergeant in your Own Comp^. Lieu* Wright 
has orders from me to Send you a Serg* & Eight 
Men from his Comp^. You will I expect get Volun- 
teers in your Own Comp^. & Cap* Hanleys, without 
draughting the Comp^^^ I have wrote to the Capt*s ^q 
have their proportion of Men ready. You had better 
Appoint a day for them to Muster their Comp^®^ and 
Attend. You are to march as quick as possible I ex- 
pect you will march next week you will send Your 
Ensign & fifteen men to Cap* Vanbibers fort. Your 
Lieut*. & fifteen to Cap* Donnalys. & You with the re- 
maining part may continue at Ca[m]p. Union or 'else 
where as may be most necessary for the protection or 
defence of the Inhabitants, in which you will be di- 
rected by Cap* Stuart. Your Proportion of men will 
be 20. or more if you can get them from 'your own 
Compy. The Lieut* 16. the Ensign ten & with Cap* 
Robinsons 8 will make your Compy. 54. You are to 
use your utmost dilegence in protecting the Inhabi- 



PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE 193 

taiits, & repelling an Invasion, let me hear from you, 
from time to time & You will Oblidge Your Hble 
Serv^ 

[William Fleming] 
To Capt Givens 26 



[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ5 — A. L. S.] 

Greenbrier Sept. 3d. 1776 
S"" — I Rec<^ an Order p^ Cap^ Vanbibber from you 
for thirty five pounds of the Countrys lead in my 
care, which I delivered to him, he also say'd you de- 
sired to Know how much of the lead was here which 
I cannot give an Exact account of, for want of an 
Instrument to weigh it, but I Rec<^. it of the commis- 
sary after the Expedition & the weight then was 
543^ Cap* Arbuckle since had an order for it & I 
suppose may at different times have carryed 
away about 200^ I also let Cap*. Hamilton on muddy 
creek 27 have 20^. as they had not any there which 
will be delivered back again in case it is not used 

2«The Givens were a prominent Augusta County family, 
James having received a grant of land therein in 1738. This 
was Capt. George, who had been lieutenant in Dunmore's War, 
and was promoted to a captaincy on the death of Samuel Wil- 
son. — Ed. 

27 Andrew Hamilton was one of the earhest settlers in the 
Greenbrier region; see Dunmore's War, p. 319. Captain 
Hamilton was chosen by lot to lead troops to re-inforce Gen- 
eral Hand in 1777, and upon his return from Point Pleasant 
led out a party in pursuit of the Indians after the siege of 
Donnally's fort in 1778. — Ed, 
13 



194 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

against the Enemy, the alarm from Cap*. Arbuckle 
has caused a good many people in those parts to move 
off their familys the Remainder are chiefly gathered 
in to forts, the Bearer Cap* Anderson"^ can Inform 
you of the Situation of the people at present I have 
sent Two men to the point to know how Cap* Ar- 
buckle is, as soon as they Return I shall inform you 
you what Inteligance the[y] Bring I have Twenty 
two men which was Imployed Building the fort I 
darsay you will not think it Imprudent to Keep them 
together untill the people is something appeased or 
we know more of the design of ■ Enimy, the people 
up the river are Intirely Destitute of ammunition of 
any Kind, if there is ' any to come to those parts I 
Should be glad how soon it Colud [could] be sent 
out, Cap* Anderson will be applying -for a small com- 
mand to stay at mill of his, which will be the only 
Benifisial one in those parts should the Indians come 
and should you think proper to allow them might be 
of great Service. And^. Wallace & Jn'^. Galloway is 
now hear with som Recruits of Cap* Arbuckles com- 
pany, they Intend [waiting] untill [MS. torn] retuims 
from the point, when the[y] Design takeing som 
beaf cattle with them, as Cap* Arbuckle is in much 
need of them. I have Supplyed the men, they have 
with them as well as those I had Raising the fort, 
with my own salt which is a presious article here & 
should be • Exceeding glad to Know whether I can- 
not be Repaid in the Salt now in the hands of the 



2« Probably one of the family noted in Dunmore's War, p. 
137, note 95— Ed. 



ALONG THE OHIO 195 

committee should the enimy come & more ' men be 
call'd together we shall be very bad off for that ar- 
ticle unless som is sent us. I shall be Expedisious 
in leting you Know of any appearance of the Enimy 
that may happen and am with Respect 

Your Most Humb^ Serv*. 

John Stewart 
Colo William Fleming Botetourt favour of Cap* Jno An- 
derson. 



FORTS ON THE OHIO 

[Col. Dorsey Pentecost to David Shepherd. 1SS15— A. L. S.] 

September 4^1. 1776 
Sir — It is has been thought Expedient for the Pro- 
tection and Safety of the frontiers to Station a Num- 
ber of Men at Different places on the Ohio between 
Fort Pitt, and the mouth of Grave Creek,^^ and at a 
Council of war held this day you have been Ap- 
pointed Commissary for to Victual &c. Such of the 
Militia as are now or may be Imployed on the pres- 
ent Emergency, and I having also Laid your Ap- 
pointment before the Committee of the County which 
they have been pleased to approve, I am therefore to 
Desire that you immediately proceed to provide Such 
provisions &c. as shall be wanting on this occassiorij 
taking care to supply them in due Time, & purchase 
on the best Terms you can on the faith of Gov- 
ernment. I need not suggest to you the Great Ne- 
cessity there is of your Exerting Your self, but am 



2» For Grave Creek see Ibid., p. 36, note 64. — Ed. 



igS REVOLUTION ON UVPER OHIO 

full assured that you will Exert your best Endeav- 
ours in facilitating the Business at this Time of 
alarm and Great Calamity 

I am Sir your Most Hm^ Serv* 

DoRSEY • Pentecost C. Liu* 
To David Sheph,erd Esqr Wheeling so 



REINFORCEMENTS ORDERED 

[Pres. John Page to Col. William Fleming. 1U35 — L. S.] 

Williamsburg in Council Sepr 9^11. 1776 
Sir — Having received a Letter from the Commis- 
sioners appointed to treat with the Northern Indians, 
representing the Danger which in their opinion 
threatens Fort Pitt from the hostile Disposition of 
those Tribes, who under the pretence of treating with 
the Commissioners are collecting in such numbers, 
that the present Garrison at that ■ Fort would be un- 
able to baffle their attempts. You are therefore re- 
quired to pay a particular attention to the orders 



®° Col. David Shepherd, eldest son of Thomas, was born in 
Berkeley County, Virginia, near Shepherdstown, where his 
father was one of the earliest settlers of the Shenandoah Val- 
ley, allied with the Hites and Van Meters. In 1770 he re- 
moved to the West and settled at the forks of Wheeling 
Creek, in what is now Ohio County, W. Va. Having acted as 
commissary under Pentecost, he was in January, 1777, chosen 
county-lieutenant for the newly-erected Ohio County, and 
acted in that capacity until his death in 1795. He commanded 
Fort Henry during its siege in 1777, and led a regiment on 
Brodhead's Coshocton expedition (1781). During 1783-85 
Shepherd served in the Virginia legislature, and during the 
Indian wars was efficient in guarding the frontier. For a ful- 
ler biography see West Virginia Historical Magazine, January, 

1903.— JtD. 



REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING 



197 



they have sent you, and hold such a body of Men in 
readiness to march to their assistance, as they may 
require. 

We are Sir your h^®. Serv*^ 

Signed by order of Council 

John Page P*." 
P. S. If you can make out another Comp^ you are 
also required to send it to Point Pleasant. 

J. P. 
County Lieut, of Botetourt 



[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ6 — A. L. S.] 

Greenbrier Sept. igtli 1776 
S^. — I Rec<^. yours by Express & shall Indeavour 
to embody the Number of men you mention with all 
expedition. Cap* Givens arrived yesterday at camp 
union with about thirty men & Expects he will have 
as many • as will make them thirty seven soon, as a 
party is to follow, they will march Immediately to 
mudday creek I have not heard anything of Cap* 
McKee,32 but his Lieut. Thompson is now at Camp 
union & has about seven oir Eight of his Recruits 



31 John Page (1744-1808), coming of an old Virginia fam- 
ily, was elected first president of the governor's council under 
the new constitution, June 29, 1776. He was Virginia mem- 
ber of Congress (1789-97), and governor of his state (1802- 
05).— Ed. 

32 For a brief sketch of Capt. William McKee see Dun- 
move's War, p. 348, note 69. He was in command of Fort 
Randolph during Arbuckle's absence in the spring of 1778, 
when beseiged by an Indian force.— Ed. 



igS REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

gathered there. M^. Mathews ^^ will have the cat- 
tle gathered against wedensday night, that they will be 
ready to start on the next morning, M^. Wallace & 
Galloway has now about 20 Recruits at ' Camp Union 
& I have Desired Morris to detain with his party of 
10 men at muddy creek untill the cattle are ready 
to Start, however, I apprehend without the addition 
of som militia to those they are not willing to • go, & 
I understand by Cap* Givens his men refuses to go. 
I shall if no better will do Indeavour to make 
them 50 Strong as it may be necessary from the pres- 
ant aperance of danger out of my own Militia, & 
.have them sent off as soon as possible the messen- 
gers I sent for the point Returned with a party of 
Cap*. Arbuckles Soldiers who's time was expired & 
were coming home these brings no further Inteli- 
gence than the Indians were all withdrawn from the 
point and two days before they came away Cap^Her- 
rod^* had arived there from Kentucke, with four- 
teen men &had met several partys of Indians going 
down the River who were very sivle, & this I find 
has made the people at the point less apprehensive 
of an attack then formerly, but without any othei 
reason than that, & the forbearance of the Indians. I 
expect more of Cap*. Arbuckles men soon & if there 
is any thing meterial shall let you Know Immediately, 
one of our scouts from that quarter next the warrior 



33 Probably Archer Matthews, brother of George and Samp- 
son, who were captains in Dunmore's War. Archer early re- 
moved to the neighborhood of Matthew Arbuckle, in Green- 
brier. — Ed. 

34 Capt. William Harrod, for whom see Dunmore's War, p. 
68, note 14. — Ed. 



NEWS OF THE TRIBESMEN 199 

fording came in yesterday they have for several day; 
past heared gunns & seen som signs & seems to be 
much persuaded its Indians but could never discover 
the certainty. I have nothing more at present to In- 
form you of & am with Esteem 

Your most Ob^. Humb^ Serv*. 

John Stewart. 

On Publick Service 

To Col. William Fleming Botetourt 



DISPOSITION OF THE INDIAN TRIBES 

[Summary of a report made by the Commissioners of Indian 
Affairs at Pittsburgh to Congress, printed in Amer. Ar- 
chives, 5th series, ii, pp. 511-518.] 

The report (dated at Pittsburgh, September 25, 
1776) is to the effect that news has been received 
that fifteen hundred Chippewa and Ottawa intend soon 
to rendezvous at Tuscarawas, ^^ with the pirobabk 
purpose of an attack on FoTt Pitt; also that a party 
of Potawatomi^® has started to attack the settlements. 
The Mingo, Wyandot, and Caughnawaga are known 
to be hostile, and have already taken some prisoners 
firom Kentucky. 



35 The Tuscarawas River, branch of the Muskingum, in east- 
ern Ohio, where there were several Delaware Indian towns. 

8® The Potawatomi are an Algonquian tribe who were first 
encountered by French explorers on the shores of Green Bay, 
in what is now Wisconsin. Later they had villages in the 
vicinity of Detroit, St. Josephs (Mich.), and Milwaukee 
(Wis.). They were early known as 'Trench Indians," being 
subservient to the whiteman's wishes, and afterwards followed 
the British directions. Their part in the Revolution was 
small. — Ed. 



^OO REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Fearing an attack of some of these hostiles on 
Pittsburgh, Colonels Carnahan and Proctor "^^ of 
Westmoreland County, and Col. Dorsey Pentecost of 
West Augusta, were ordered to call out the militia 
for the defense of the post. Col. Aenaes Mackay^* 
was also ordered to lay in provisions for his battalions 
at Kittanning.^^ Conferences were held with sucTi 



37 Col. John Carnahan was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and set- 
tled first at Carlisle, in Cumberland County, Pa. In 1775 he 
was appointed high-sheriff of Westmoreland County, holding 
that office until 1781, being also colonel of the county militia. 
He was drowned in the Allegheny in 1788. His son James be- 
came president of Princeton College. 

Col. John Proctor was a neighbor and near friend of Ar- 
chibald Lochry, for whom he served as executor. He took up 
land in Westmoreland as early as 1769 and was first sheriff of 
Bedford, then of Westmoreland upon its erection in 1773. Ap- 
pointed colonel of the first battalion, he took his men to the 
Eastern army in 1777. He died some time after 1791. — Ed. 

^^ Col. A.eneas Markay's former place of residence does not 
appear in the records. From 1772,-7^ he was prominent in 
Westmoreland County politics, and in July of the latter year 
became colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania regiment. His regi- 
ment was at Kittanning when the commissioners wrote, march- 
ing thence to the Eastern army in the following December. 
The fatigues of the winter expedition were too much for 
Colonel Mackay, who succumbed to the strain, and died 
February, 1777, in New Jersey, being buried with military 
honors at Philadelphia. — Ed. 

39 "The Kittanning" was a term applied to a stretch of 
country along the banks of the Allegheny, about fifty miles 
above Pittsburgh, where had been several Delaware Indian 
villages, built soon after 1730. These villages were under the 
chiefs Captain Jacobs and Shingas, during the French and In- 
dian War, and were a rendezvous for the hostiles who issued 
thence for attacks upon the frontier. Here also prisoners 
were detained, and several tortured and burned. In September, 
1756, Col. John Armstrong at the head of a punitive party of 
Pennsylvanians raided the district and burned the villages. No 
further notice is found of this place until the opening of the 
land office in 1769 led land speculators thither. However a 
permanent settlement was not made until 1774, when on the 
advice of Arthur St. Clair, some Pennsylvania troops were 



NEWS OF THE TRIBESMEN 201 

chiefs as came in to Fort Pitt, and no more outrages 
being reported from the Mingo party at Kispapoo 
Town, the minds of the commissioners and inhabi- 
tants were somewhat reassured. Friendly chiefs of- 
fered to seek Pluggy's Town and the Wyandot in the 
interests of peace. Finally, four Chippewa came to 
treat, and were prevailed upon to remain until the 
arrival of Wasson, their principal chief. ^° All this 
lessened the necessity for the militia, and led to or- 
ders for disbanding most of those that had assembled. 
Their spirited conduct on the occasion of this alarm, 
deserves praise. Two spies have been sent to Cuya- 



stationed here, and a stockade built as a base for the Indian 
trade. Early in the Revolution there was stationed here a 
company under Captain Van Swearingen, which remained 
until the Western battalion, commanded by Colonel Mackay 
rendezvoused at this place. When marching thence in Decem- 
ber, 1776, Mackay left one company under the command of 
Capt. Samuel Moorhead, who strengthened the fort, and re- 
mained as a bulwark against Indian invasions until ordered by 
General Hand, in the autumn of 1777, to evacuate the block- 
house. In December of the same year a scouting party had a 
small skirmish at this spot; and again, in 1779, Brady rescued 
some prisoners here. In June of that year, Col. Stephen Bay- 
ard built a fort at Kittanning under the orders of Col. Daniel 
Brodhead. This he named Fort Armstrong; but under orders 
it was evacuated in November, 1779, and never again regularly 
garrisoned. Fort Armstrong was situated about two miles be- 
low the present town of Kittanning, and some ruins thereof 
were visible in the early part of the nineteenth century. — Ed. 
■*o Wasson was the Chippewa chief who joined Pontiac in 
the siege of Detroit (1763). One of his nephews having been 
killed in a sortie, Wasson demanded the death of Capt. Don- 
ald Campbell as a matter of revenge, and put him to torture. 
The following year he humbly sued for peace and forgiveness. 
This granted, he retired with his band to Saginaw. The chiefs 
of the Saginaw band of Chippewa continued to use the name 
of Wasson, which was modified into Owasso, borne by a 
chieftain living near the present Michigan town of that name. 
In 1838 the last incumbent of the name was forcibly removed 
by the government from his village. — Ed. 



202 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

hoga, and the minds of all are somewhat ireassured. 
Enclosed in this report was one from William Wil- 
son/^ detailing his experiences during a journey to 
the Indian tribes in June and July of this same year, 
in order to invite the tribesmen to a treaty at Fort 
Pitt. Cornstalk and the Hardman, Shawnee chiefs, 
accompanied him, and Joseph Nicholson was met en 
route. While among the Delawares, Wilson deter- 
mined to go to the Wyandot towns, whereupon Cap- 
tain White Eyes acted as his escort. At Wingen- 
und's town John Montour joined them, and they all 
proceeded to the Wyandot town opposite Detroit. 
There they were present at a council called by the 
British governor, who thireatened Wilson, and tore 
his message in pieces before the eyes of the Indians.*- 
The governor likewise treated White Eyes with con- 
tumely, and ordered him to depart from that vicinity.*^ 



*i William Wilson was a well-known Indian trader, resident 
at Pittsburgh, who frequently acted as messenger and inter- 
preter. He had a trading post near Beaver River, and in 1793 
gave information that led to the arrest, trial, and acquittal of 
Capt. Samuel Brady for Indian murders. He was in Detroit 
the same year, and later went down to Cincinnati, whence he 
proceeded to Greenville, where he died in 1796. — Ed. 

■*2 See Hamilton's own account of this conference in Michi- 
gan Pion. & Hist. Colls., x, pp. 264-267. — Ed. 

*3 Heckewelder, Narrative, p. 146. John Gottlieb Ernestus 
Heckewelder was born in England, of German parentage, in 
1743. In 1754 he emigrated to Bethlehem, Pa. His first visit 
to the Ohio country was in 1762, when he accompanied the 
veteran missionary Frederick Post on a tour to the Ohio In- 
dians. During the years 1765-71 he was in temporary service 
at various missions, in the last-named year becoming first as- 
sistant to Zeisberger in the latter's Delaware mission. About 
1786, Heckewelder retired to Bethlehem and devoted himself 
to literary pursuits, writing a History of Indian Tribes, philo- 
logical notes, etc. In 1792, and again the following year, he 



NEWS OF THE TRIBESMEN 203 

Wilson was civilly entertained, however, by the Brit- 
ish interpreter, William Tucker,** who admitted that 
he thought it probable that the Indians around De- 
troit would soon attack the American settlements. 

On their return these envoys met Isaac Zane,*^ who 
brought Half-king, chief of the Wyandot, to see Wil- 
son. The latter secured from this important chief- 
tain a promise of neutrality. 

White Eyes has asked the Americans to aid his 
tribe, the Delawares, to build a strong fort to protect 



assisted at treaties, and was in the civil service of Ohio 1797- 
1800. For ten years thereafter, he lived among his former 
converts at Gnadenhiitten, retiring finally to Bethlehem, 
where he died in 1823. — Ed. 

*-*William Tucker was born in New Jersey, but early re- 
moved with his parents to the frontier of Virginia. In 1754, 
Tucker's father, while harvesting grain, was killed, and two of 
his sons captured by a band of Chippewa Indians. Young 
Tucker was at that time eleven years of age. He was kept a 
prisoner for seven years, and then entered the Indian trade 
at Detroit, where he was present during Pontiac's siege. He 
is said to have given notice of the aboriginal plot to Major 
Gladwin, and thus saved the garrison. In 1773 he re-visited 
Virginia, married, and brought to Detroit his bride and sev- 
eral slaves. During the Revolution he was the official Ottawa 
and Chippewa interpreter, and a captain in the Indian depart- 
ment. At its close. Tucker settled on his farm on the site of 
the modern Mt. Clemens, and there resided until his death in 
1805. His sons were in the American service in the War of 
1812-15, and many descendants still live in Michigan. — Ed. 

*^ Isaac Zane was born on the south branch of the Potomac 
about 1754, the youngest of several brothers who afterwards 
became the first settlers at Wheeling. When nine years of 
age Isaac was captured by Indians and grew up among them, 
marrying into the Wyandot tribe and living like an aborigine. 
He often warned the border settlers of their danger from 
Indian raids, and acted as guide and interpreter. About 1795 
he bought a tract of 1800 acres in the present Logan County, 
and settled near Zanesfield, where he died in 1816. — Ed. 



204 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

them from the Western tribes, whom they fear will 
attack them because of their friendship for the col- 
onists. 



FORT RANDOLPH RE-INFORCED 

[Capt. William McKee to Col. William Fleming. 1U38 — 
A. L. S.] 

G. Briar Sepi* 30^11 1776 
Dear Sir — I Rec^. yours by M^. Wallace with the 
Powder and am oblig^. to you for the Additional 
ten pounds. I arrived at the Fort Charles in the Se- 
vannah*® the 27^^ Inst^. with only 17 men besides 
my self. 4 or 5 were ahnost Ready w^ I Expect here 
before those are March<^. from this place Lieut*. 
Thompson has Enlisted about twenty, fourteen of 
them will be Ready to go Down I Expect to March 
between 30 & 40 with M^. Thompson for Fort Ran- 
dolph by this Day week. I Rec. a Letter from Maj^. 
Nevil Desiring [me] to send Down Men as fast as 
the cou^. be Raisd, to supply the Deficiency in the 
Fort occassioned by the coming away of Cap*. Ar- 
bucles Men. (And however Desirous I am of March- 
ing my whole Compy together) I think it is abso- 
lutely Necessary to Comply with this Measure. 
The People here are at Present Quite easy 
a number of men are lately arrived from the 
point from whom we learn the Shawanese are averse 
to any Hostility ag^* us (God Grant that temper may 



*^ The fort at Camp Union — the site used as a rendezvous 
for Lewis's division in Dunmore's War. — Ed. 



HOSTILE RAIDS 205 

long Continue with them). I saw Lieut. Robinson 
He Inform'^, me he had Recruited Nine. But since 
I came here have heard he is not sure of any more 
than one or Two and that he had Nominated a Mul- 
latto to be serg*. and he had no Right to appoint any 
if this be the case he is not a good Judge of Pro- 
priety Im afraid he will not Raise his Quota, and 
there are several others wou*^. be willing that Im 
Confident cou^. soon Raise their Quota were they Ap- 
pointed I believe all the other Subalterns will Com- 
plete their Number sooner than any that cou^. be ap- 
pointed in their Room I shall be Glad to let you 
know how Matters goes with me and have your ad- 
vice every oppertunity and am with Respect Sii 
yours &c 

W"^ M^Kee 
To Colo. William Fleming Bellmont By favour Capt Jno. 
Stuart 



INDIANS RAIDING 

[John Cook to Capt. Andrew Hamilton. 3ZZ7 — A. L. S.] 

October 2^. 1776 
S^. — This minet I Rec^. Express from Clover Lick 
which is an exact Copy of an Express from fort Pite 
[Pitt] from Major Nevel at [to] Point Plisent, which 
gives the folowing acount viz that there is four Com- 
panys of Indians Gon out in order for Ware Cap* 
Pluggy and one Compney is Gon for Centuck^*^ tow 

*'' In consequence of the capture of the girls at Boones- 
borough, and other depredations during the summer, all the 
stations of Kentucky broke up save three, Boonesborough, 



2o6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Compnys Crosed the ohigho at y® mough of Hock- 
hocken which is alou^ to strick at Greenbrier one 
Compy Cros^, higher up y^ River which is to strick 
on the head of the west fork^^ or som of those waters, 
there is sixty Indens in Noumber as P^ Express 
their is not the Lest apperance of a treaty at Fort 
Pite for ther is not above forty Indens there and 
those old Indens and squas and it is the genarel opin- 
on of all the Traders and Interpetars that ther will 
be a General Ware the Express Was dated the 25^ 
of Sept and brought up by Cap* may and he De- 
sirs the Inhabitantes to have the militia in the Best 
order they Cane for ther Defence sent from fort 
Pite by Stephen Radcaff 

I am s^ your hum^ sar* 

Jno Cook 

N. B. you are by the Express to send an Express 
to Cap*. Stawert so that all the Country my Gate 
Warning 

ther ough[t] to be an Express sent to Co^ Flem- 
ing as this may be Depended on. 

Cap*. Andw. Hamilton 

Harrodsburgh, and McClelland's. It was estimated that fully 
three hundred settlers left the country, and went back to the 
settlements. George Rogers Clark and John Gabriel Jones, 
delegates from the Kentucky settlements to the Virginia legis- 
lature, secured an advance of five hundred pounds of powder 
to protect the new settlements, and conveyed it down the Ohio, 
landing at Limestone. A party marching in from there with 
part of the powder, was attacked by Pluggy's gang near the 
Lower Blue Licks, on Christmas day, two men being killed, 
including the leader Jones, and two captured. Four days later 
the Indians attacked McClelland's Station, but were repulsed 
after losing their leader, Captain Pluggy. See Draper MSS., 
4B 1 00-110. — Ed. 

*8 The west branch of Monongahela River was then the out- 
ward limit of settlement in that region. — Ed. 



HOSTILE RAIDS 207 



[Col. Dorsey Pentecost to Capt. William Harrod. 4NN28 — 
A. L. S.] 

October i6tit 1776 
Sir — I am from the late Hostilities being commit- 
ted on the Inhabitants by the Indians, I have thought 
proper by and with the advice of the Committee of 
this County & a Council of War held this Day for that 
Purpose. I have thought Proper to appoint you to the 
Command of a Company to be Imployed for the De- 
fence and Protection of the Inhabitants, I therefore or- 
der that you draft Ten Men of your Company and you 
will be joined by a Lieu* & 10 Men from Cap*. Vir- 
gins*^ Company, an Ensign & 10 Men from Cap*. Ow- 
en's Company, a Serjant & 10 Men fromi Captain Enoch 
Enoch's ^° Company, and a Sarj*. and 10 Men from 
Captain Hargess's Company, which you will Take 
the Command of, and march with all posible Expe- 
dition, to the mouth of Fishing Creek on the Ohio,^^ 



*^ Reazin Virgin was appointed a militia captain of Ohio 
County in January, 1777. He lived in what is now Fayette 
County, Pa., and in 1780 removed and located four hundred 
acres in Franklin Township, Washington County. The Draper 
MSS. contain several receipts, with his signature, for powder 
and provisions down to 1780. — Ed. 

50 David Owens was captain of a company of rangers. 

Henry Enoch was an early settler in Hampshire County, at 
the forks of the Great Cacapon River, on the road from Win- 
chester westward. Here a fort was erected in November, 1755, 
for the protection of the settlers, after Braddock's defeat. 
Washington stopped here on his return from the Ohio in 1770. 
A Henry Enoch signed several receipts at Fort Henry, and in 
1777 was for a time stationed at Grave Creek fort. His brother 
Enoch lived in Amwell Township, Washington County, Pa., 
then considered a part of Virginia. — Ed. 

«5i Fishing Creek should not be confused with Fish Creek, 
only a few miles below Big Grave Creek. The former is 



2o8 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

and there make a Camp and that you Scour up the 
river so as to join the scouts that will be sent down 
from the Garrison of Grave Creek, & down the Ohio 
for 10 or 12 Miles, and if you find any Indians on 
the south side of the Ohio, which have crossed the 
Ohio with Hostile Intentions you will Treat them as 
open & avow'd Enemys, and in Case of any Murder 
being Committed on our Inhabitants that you use 
your utmost Endeavours to overtake and Chastize 
them, and I must Strictly injoin you to Cover & 
Protect the Inhabitants in the best manner the Na- 
ture of the Case & your Situation will admit of, and 
in Case of Any Incursions being made that you Sig- 
nify it to me by the most Quickes[t] Conveyance, 
you will take cear to furnish your Company with 
Sufficient Quantity of Provisions, to march them to 
grave Creek where you will receive Provisions for 
your Company, you will use all possible frugality 
in your Expense, wishing you a good journey, & 
that you may be able to give a good account of those 
Rasculs that may attempt to Attack our Lives Lit>- 
ertys or property, I am Sir your Humb® S* 

DoRSEY Pentecost C. L. 
To Capt. W°i. Harrod 



twenty-six miles below Grave Creek, and comes in from the 
West Virginia side, with the town of New Martinsville at its 
mouth. — Ed, 



HOSTILE RAIDS 209 

PROVISIOITS FOR rORT RANDOLPH 

[Andrew Donnally and Archer Matthews to Col. William 
Fleming. 1U41 — L. S.] 

Nov^. ist 1776 
we have Purchased a large Drove of Cattle & 
hoggs for the use of the men at the Point & our 
Instiructions from Co^. Harison^^ is to ap[p]ly to you 
for a guard. We shall be Ready to Start from here 
the twelfth of this Instant & we think their may be 
men Got here if you think Proper by taking a Small 
Part out of Each Company with Part of Cap*. Giv- 
ens Company, we shall be glad you would Send 
Instiructions to us as Soon as Posible, as it apears 
two Dangerous to go without a guard & may be of 
a great loss to the Country 

S^^ We Remain your Hum^. Servt*. 

And^. Donely & 
Arch"^. Mathews 
To Colo. wm. Fleming, pr Express 



INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 

[Col, William Fleming to Donnally and Matthews. 1U42 — 
A. L. S.] 

Sirs — Yours of Nov^. 1^*. came to hand by the 
Messenger from Fort Charles. I expect Instructions 
every day from W^^^burg relative to the Continuance 
of the Men on Our Frontiers till that reaches me I 



»2 Probably Benjamin Harrison, later of Rockingham, for 
whom see Dunmore's War, p. 272, note 87. — Ed. 
14 



2IO REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

cannot send you positive Instructions with regard to 
the Escort. Nor have you mentioned what Number 
you think might be necessary. It is my Oppinion that 
those Indians who scalp'd the Men at the Point & 
fired on the Party near Hockhoking^^ were the same 
that did the damage at Wheehng^* & were on their 
Return if so they are gon home, & the dainger in 
going to the Point may not be great. However as 
You do not design to Start before the 12*^. I shall 
have it in my power to write you particularly before 
then. I am Sir &:c 

W^ Fleming 

Novr 3. 1776 
Donaly & Mathews 



53 Pentecost gives a full description of this event in his let- 
ter of Nov. 5 to Patrick Henry, post. The party was under 
the charge of Robert Patterson, afterwards of Lexington, Ky. 
Patterson went to Kentucky in 1775, and in 1776 was in com- 
mand of a party of seven, returning up the Ohio, carrying 
despatches to the commander at Wheeling. They passed Point 
Pleasant .in safety, but during the night of the nth or 12th of 
October were fired upon near the mouth of Hockhocking 
River. Patterson was one of those severely wounded, and lay 
in the woods eight days until rescued by a party from the 
Grave Creek fort. See his pension statement. Draper MSS., 
iMi. The names of his men were David Perry, Isaac Green, 
James Templeton, James Wernock, and Joseph McNutt, of 
whom the last two were killed. — Ed. 

^* The Pennsylvania Gazette of Nov. 6, 1776, contains the 
following: "Williamsburg, Va., Oct. 25. — By a gentleman 
from Fort Pitt we learn, that eleven settlers at the mouth of 
Wheeling, about fifty miles below that post, were killed by 
the Tawahs, Wyandots, Mingoes, and other disaffected In- 
dians, on the 9th of this instant." This is doubtless an exag- 
gerated report of the killing of two women and capture of a 
boy, mentioned by Pentecost, post. — Ed. 



HOSTILE RAIDS 21 1 



[Capt. Matthew Arbuckle to Capt. John Stuart. 1U40 — 
A. L. S.] 

Fort Randolph Nov^*. 2^ 1776 
Sir — I think it my Duty to acquaint you with every 
Particular relative to Indian affairs as they occur 
to me here in hopes what information I can give you 
may be a great means of giving you Satisfaction 
Besides securing you from Danger. Since I wrote 
Jon last I immediately after that accident Sent two 
Spies cross the Ohio with orders not to return for 

ten Days without making some Discovery Nine 

of which elapsed without any. But Yesterday (which 
was the tenth) as they were returning about a Mile 
from the Ohio Bank just opposite this fort they saw 
some Indian Signs & was immediately fired on by an 
Indian not above eight yards Distance. Just at the 
very moment the foremost of the Spies was jerking 
his Gun off his shoulder in order to Shoot & the In- 
dian Bullet took the Box of his Gun (just Opposite 
his Breast) & lodged there the Spy received very 
little Damage only grazed on the Arm in two or three 
Places either by Part of the Bullet or of the Box 

lid Such as Buck Shot might have done The 

Spies Shot at him as soon as Possible Both, & he 
fell But recovered immediately & he & his Partners 
Cleared them selves as quick as Possible, with the 
loss of his Shot Pouch Powder horn & many other 
little airticles the Damn^. Savages had the assur- 
ance to Camp there within a Mile of this Fort but 
on their own Side of the River, they were so Pro- 
vident as to Bring a String for a Prisoner but un- 



212 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

luckily lost it in the fray along with the other Arti- 
cles. I intend keeping out Spies both up, Down, & 
over the Ohio Constantly & shall always endeavouir 
to Protect the Inhabitants on the Frontiers to the 
utmost of my power I hope you will inform me Par- 
ticularly what Success we have had against the Cher- 
okees as soon as Convenient, we are not Certain 
what Nation of Indians they are of ; whom our Spies 
Defeated but they Suppose them to be either Shaw- 
nies or Mingoes. 

I am Sir your very Hy®. Serv* 

Matthew Arbuckle 

P. S. you will much Oblige me by giving M'^^ 
Arbuckle an ace*, from me at this Place as soon as 
Convenient. 

[To Capt. John Stewart. Green brier.] 



[Col. Dorsey Pentecost to Gov. Patrick Henry. Draper's 
combined summary and transcript from Virginia State 
Records, in Draper MSS., 13S190, 191.] 

West Augusta, Nov. 5, 1776. 
He is exerting himself to defend & protect the 
people, has one company at mouth of Fishing creek 
& another on the heads of Dunkerd & Middle Island 
Creeks ;^^ speaks of the cruel depredations ''of the 
infernal, relentless band of Mingoes. 



^^ Dunkard Creek is a Western affluent of the Mononga- 
hela, embouching in Greene County, Pa. A famous Indian 
war-road led up Fish Creek and along Dunkard, hence the 



HOSTILE RAIDS 213 

"On the 9th of October two women were killed at 
the mouth of Fish Creek, & a little boy taken pris- 
oner. The husbands of the women were in canoes 
moving home from the fort at Grave Creek; one of 
the men upon hearing the women fiired on, ran ashore 
& discharged his gun at one of the Indians, & it is 
thought wounded him, as the party that went to 
bury the dead the next day, found near where he 
stood three bags of paint, a hoppus, a pair of moc- 
casons, a looking glass & a head dress. 

"On the 11th of , the same month, seven men on 
their return from C^intuck were fired on in their 
camp nearly opposite the mouth of , Hockhocking ; 
one was killed on the spot & scalped ; one shot 
through with two bullets, of which he died the next 
day; two of the men had an arm broken each, one 
slightly wounded, the other two not hurt. When the 
men awaked, the Indians were amongst them with 
their tomahawks and war clubs; a scuffle ensued, 
but the Indians being prepared & having the advan- 
tage the men were obliged to run, one was cut with 
a tomahawk by the side of his back bone to the hol- 
low of his body, another cut under the shoulder to 
the ribs. After plundering the camp, they crossed 
the river. One of the well men ran back to Fort 
Randolph, the other (Edward Mitchell) a neair neigh- 
bor of mine, sent the person who was slightly 
wounded up to Grave Creek, & hid the wounded in 



white settlers in that district were especially exposed to 
depredations. 

Middle Island Creek rises in Doddridge County, W. Va., 
and enters the Ohio in Pleasants, about twenty-five miles be- 
low Fishing Creek. — Ed. 



214 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

an obscure place & sustained them nine days upon 
paw paws. The Captain of the mihtia stationed at 
Grave Creek, with 33 men of his own company, 
joined with an Ensign & 12 men of the Regulars at 
Wheeling, went down, & four days ago came up 
with the wounded, who are likely to do well." 
Speaks of Indian sign being seen all over the upper 
Ohio region, & the people forted, scouts & spies out, 
&€., houses & corn fields destroyed where deserted. 



NEWS FROM WILLIAMSBURGH 

[Capt William McKee to Col. William Fleming. 1U39 — 
A. L. S.] 

Honour^. Sir — Yours by Cap*. Stuart only came 
to hand last Night 'on my Return from Will^^burg 
at w^ place I have been to Receive the advance for 
my Compy and some 'Necessary Disbursement^. I 
have Just Rec*^ an ace*, of the safe arrival of the De- 
tachment I sent to Fort Randolph I Intend March- 
ing another Detachment of between 40 & 50 Monday 
n[oon] (God Willing) Under two Subalterns (viz) 
[MS. torn] and Gilmore. And shall now make an 
application to you 'for about an Equal [quanti]ty of 
Powder you sent before (viz) 20^^ [Ms. torn] to 
Each Man near >^^^ w^ I think is little [enough] w<^ 
I hope youll Be kind Enough to Send by the bearer 
John Moor from the Same Cask you sent the other. 
Dear Sir after Informing you of my being at the 
Metropolis you think strange if I had no News to 



AT WILLIAMSBURGH 215 

Impart Indeed Sir News are not so plenty there 
as they Rather Expect some Important News from 
our Quarter Relative to our Expedition Southwes- 
terly God Grant they may be Good and I hope thay 
will From New York nothing of Importance has 
Transpir*^, some Private ' Letters say Howe has sent 
or Gone up the North River ten thousand Men 
above General Washingtons lines and from that move- 
ment some Decissive Stroke is Expected. The affair 
of Ticonderoga w^ I Suppose you have heard of had 
not arriv^. there last Saturday If that is true it^. an 
Important Blow. But I cou*^. 'wish it were better 
Confirm^. Some French Vessels have lately arrived 
and a Prize of Considerable Value. Some Private 
Intelligence have been Rec*^. by the Assembly with w^ 
they appeair well pleased but they keep it a profound 
secret. Col^. Bland Died Suddenly of an appoplexy 
last Saturday Morning having the Day before De- 
clared himself warmly in favour of Establishment*^* 
That Affair is to be Decided the 11*^ Instant the Ma- 
jority both in & out of Doors Seem [to] be for 
breaking it. I heard a long Debate in the House 
about a Bill for Docking Entails. But it Carried by 



5^ Col. Richard Bland (1710-76), a prominent patriot, had 
opposed the stamp act. A representative of Virginia in Con- 
gress, he had been a leader during the stirring days of the 
early Revolution. Like most of the older statesmen he was 
a conservative on the subject of religious liberty. The major 
portion of the legislative session of the autumn of 1776 was 
occupied with discussion of the question of an established 
church. An act was passed November 19 exempting dissenters 
from paying tithes for the established church. Complete re- 
ligious liberty, however, was not secured until the passage 
in 1785 of Jefferson's bill for religious liberty. — Ed. 



21 6 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

a great Majority. The most Important thing the 
House was about when I left the City was a Bill for 
Raising five new Battalions in this Commonwealth 
agreeable to a Resolve of Congress and fixing the 
Regular advancement of officers in the old Battalions 
and the appointment of Field officers, our Troops 
on the Ohio are Regimented Col'^. Crawford to have 
the Command and to be compleated to a full Battal- 
ion During the war if the Men are willing.^^ The 
Compys of one Hundred Men are to be Reduced to 
Q^ Rank & file & those of 50 Raised to that Quota. 
But I am to Continue to Recruit Under the former 
ordinance till further orders I have now above 68. 
Many other things of a Political Nature begin to 
Crowd themselves into my Imagination not worth 
communicating I am Dear Sir your Friend & Hble 
seirv*. 

W°^ M^Kee 

Nov 2d. 1776 



TREATY OF 17 76 



[Summary of a letter from Col. George Morgan to the Presi- 
dent of Congress, dated Nov. 8, 1776, in Amer. Archives, 
5th series, iii, pp. 599, 600.] 

The cloud which has threatened to break over this 
part of the country has now^ dispersed.®^ The Six Na- 



57 This is the well-known 13th (or West Augusta) regiment 
of the Virginia continental forces. — Ed. 

5® Morgan appears to have been too sanguine, or too politic, 
to admit the continued dangers. In a letter to Dorsey Pente- 
cost, written Nov. 17, 1776, he takes the latter to task for ex- 



IROQUOIS PEACEFUL 217 

tions, Delawares, Shawnee, Munsee, and Mahican en- 
voys have assembled here to the number of six hundred 
and forty-four, and promised inviolable peace with the 
United States, and 'neutrality during the war with 
Great Britain. The perpetrators of all the recent mis- 
chief are a band formerly situated near Cross Creeks, 
on the Ohio, but now removed to the heads of the 
Scioto. 

Recent murders reported are of two women at Fish 
Creek, where a ' boy is missing, one man killed and 
four wounded opposite Hockhocking River, and two 
soldiers killed and scalped not far from Fort Ran- 
dolph. 

Several chiefs have accepted the invitation to visit 
Congress, which is a further proof of their peaceable 
disposition.^^ 



citing alarm; see Bausman, History of Beaver County, i, p. 
71. It will be noted that the Western tribes were absent from 
the treaty — the Wyandot, Chippewa, Miami, and Ottawa. Mur- 
ders continued to be committeed ; see Hildreth, Pioneer His- 
tory, pp. Ill, 113, and Pentecost's letters, post. In December 
two scouts were overtaken near Bridgeport, Ohio, opposite 
Wheeling, one being killed and the other captured ; see J. H. 
Newton, History of the Panhandle of West Virginia (Wheel- 
ing, 1879), p. 97-— Ed. 

*^ Twelve chiefs were taken to Philadelphia at an expense 
of nearly twelve hundred dollars. They were introduced on 
Dec. 7, when a pacificatory speech was made, to which, two 
days later, they made an unimportant response. See Journals 
of Congress (new ed.), v, pp. loio, loii, 1013. — Ed. 



2i8 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



HOSTILITIES IMMINENT 

[Col. Dorsey Pentecost to Capt William Harrod. 4NN34 — 
transcript, probably in Har rod's handwriting.] 

Nov I2tli 1776 
Sir — I am now at Cap. Wells upper station®** and 
did Intend as Low as yours but the Comissarry is so 
Low that I Expect that he will Not Live and I have 
a grate deal of Business to Settel with him which 
will purvent my ' Coming Down I am tharefore to 
advise you that Detroyt and niagara are Reinforced 
and a Runner from S* duskay arived Last Friday with 
A letter which I Saw Informing that they Expect that 
that place will be fortified and garrisoned ^^ this Win- 



60 Richard and Alexander Wells emigrated from Baltimore 
County, Md., to the waters of Cross Creek, W. Va., about 
1772. — Ed. 

61 As a locality Sandusky was known from the earliest occu- 
pation of the country, a portage being made from the river of 
that name to the upper waters of the Scioto. The first recorded 
settlement of Indians was that following the secession of the 
Huron (Wyandot) chief Nicolas, who went thither from the 
neighborhood of Detroit about 1745, with the purpose of trad- 
ing with the English. Gradually a considerable number of the 
Wyandot settled upon the bay and river of Sanduskv, A trad- 
ing house was established (1750) on the south shore of the 
bay, which is sometimes alluded to as the "old French fort." 
It does not, however, appear to have been a settled post, and 
apparently was abandoned before 1759. In 1761 the English 
had a blockhouse built on the south shore of the bay, which 
was garrisoned by thirty men. These were massacred in 
May, 1763, and their commander, Ensign Paully, taken cap- 
tive. The following July, Captain Dalzell took vengeance by 
burning the Wyandot lower town. These Wyandot towns as- 
sumed much importance during the Revolution, but there 
seems to be no evidence that the proposed British fort and 
garrison was ever established. During the War of 1812-15 
Lower Sandusky was fortified, and the gallant defense of Fort 
Stephenson is an heroic incident in the annals of the Western 
border. — Ed. 



HOSTILITIES IMMINENT ' 219 

ter and in the Spring as the Winedots Cockinwaugau 
Mingows &c are now Concluding thare to Attack us 
in three Different placess : Viz Fort Pitt Fort Ran- 
dulph and Som place betwixt and that thare is now 
A party Out which Intend Strikeing us About now in 
Order to Lay it on the Deleways and Shawneways as 
the[y] Return from the P[itt] treaty and Brake the 
Peace between us and them I am tharefore to ad- 
vise you to keep up Strick gard and if aney Indians 
Appears on our side you are to Chastise them in the 
Best manner you Can and Look on them as Open and 
Avowed enemise. fore the deliways and Shanaways 
are not so mutch as to put ashore on our Side Except 
thare Intended to Come to Your Camp then tha are 
to Hollow over and you are to go and fetch them and 
then you are to treat them Civelly 9 of the Chiefs 
are gon to set in the Congress 3 of the Senekays 
also are gone the Latter I think Nothing of. tha de- 
sire to go to War with us and have declared an Inde- 
pendency from the Six Nations. I have sent down 
an Acount of the Melitia with the Comisoners to the 
Congress who Intend we shall be paid by the Con- 
tenent. The Governor has Aprouved of my Conduct 
in regard of the Melitia and has left it to me how 
many Men Should be kept to Cover the Settlements 
and the Comisiners have Left the time of dischargeing 
them to me Likewise if no Acodents happens He keep 
up the Stations till About the 10*^ of the Next 
Month. 

I was Informed a Numbers of peopel has Combined 
to Cross the Ohio and kill some of 'the Indians on 
thire Return from the treaty An action of this kind 



220 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

would forever Distroy the faith the Indians harbour 
of us and as a war is Sartin from the Noirrad [North- 
ward] Indians in the spring I think we Should keep 
the Nabouring Indians as mutch in our favour as pos- 
sable I tharefore desire and Require you if you 
should find that aney Should Attempt the Like you 
Exert your Power to frustrate it. 

DoRSEY Pentecost 

on the Publick Sarvis 

To Capt William Harrod Fishing Creek 



PRECAUTIONARY ORDERS 

[Dorsey Pentecost to Capt. William Harrod. 4NN36 — 
A. L. S.] 

November 21st 1776 
Sir — I am glad to hear you are safely arrived and 
fixed at your Station, but am Sorry to hear your 
drafts did not fully appear, but I have now taken 
cear [care] to furnish them & they will Soon be with 
you. I am Exceeding sorry to hear of the misfortune 
of Row's boys,^^ I am to beg that you do evrything 
in your Power to Serve your Country in whose abili- 
ties I place the greatest confidence in your abilities, 
all the fear I have for you is that you will be toe 
rash, I am strictly to recommend to you that you are 
cearful and use good Oeconomy and dont be too Ven- 
turesome, but Keep a good look out for I am really 



62 Not far from the garrison at Grave Creek, about the mid- 
dle of September, two sons of Adam Rowe were set upon by 
Indians, the elder being killed, and the younger captured; see 
letter of Pentecost in Bausman, Beaver County, i, p. 72. — Ed. 



TAKING PRECAUTIONS 221 

apprehensive you are in great danger, and if you find 
any Indians on our side the river Treat them as Open 
and avowed Enemies & do Every thing in your power 
to Protect the Inhabitants and your selves, & I rec- 
ommend that you build some Snug close Little garri- 
son for your Own Defence, and you will be Supplied 
with Provision by M^" Shepherd. CoP Cannon will 
be with you in a few days.^^ I have ordered another 
Company to the mouth of fish Creek your duty will 
then be much easier. I rest assured of your best En- 
deavours and am D^ Bill 

Your Very W^ Serv* 

DoRSEY Pentecost 
P. S. no man is to be suffered to leave the Post 
untill they are releved by others under the Severest 
Penalty and it is my Positive orders that you do not 
suffer your men to Cross the river to hunt under no 
pertence whatsoever 



[Col. John Canon's orders to Capt. William Harrod. 4NN38 — 
A. D. S.] 

December y^^ 1776 
1. you are to keep up a Recular Sargents Gard Ex- 
cept where it makes the Dutey Too hard by sending 



®2 Col. John Canon removed to the Western country early in 
1774. He was justice of the peace for Augusta County, and 
colonel of militia for its western district, being thus next in 
rank to Pentecost. Upon the erection of Yohogania County, 
he held the same position. In 1787 he laid out the town of 
Canonsburg, where he became concerned in the Whiskey Re- 
bellion. Colonel Canon founded the academy that became Jef- 
ferson College, and died at his Canonsburg residence in 
1799— Ed. 



222 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

out men to Gard the Inhabitants in that Case you 
must keep as good a Gard as you Can. 

2. you are not to suffer any man to Exempt him- 
self from his Dute or Leave his Post with out your 
Leave or the Leave of the oficer first in Command in 
your Absence and that furlows be only given in Rale 
Case of Necesaty, 

3 you are not to sufer any of your men to make it 
Practice of s[h]uteing About the Garrison without 
your knoladge or ' Acquanting the Garison As Evry 
such Brach of orders will be Looked ypon as an 
Alarm. 

4 you are to Assist the Inhabitants with what Guard 
you Can Spare with Prudence for the Safety of the 
Garrison to Anable them to Save their Crops, 

5 you are to Send Such Scouts as you Can Spare 
from the garison to Recuniter the River up and Down 
as far as the[y] Can Return the Same Day, and not 
to sufer them to neglect their Dutey in Hunting or 
other wise. 

6 If any Discoverys Should be mad[e] or mischief 
Done you are to Signify it to the next field oficer with 
all Possible Despatch, 

As the Dutey we ow to our Creator Should never 
be neglected I hope Sir you will not Sufer men to 
Practice of prefain Swareing or Birackng the Sabat 
Day by hunting or other wise 

8 and as I hope Evry man here Come for the Se- 
curity and protection of their Cuntry and as it is the 
gratest honour a Solder can have to obay the Com- 
mands of their oficers, I hope there will be no Com- 
plaints on that Account, 



TAKING PRECAUTIONS 223 

9 you are to proseed to Inclouse your self with 
some Kind of a fort as Soon as you Can get Horse 
and the Assistance of the Inhabitants, 

10 you are to see that the men Perade Dayley and 
Endeavour to Larn their 'Exe[r]cises. 

John Canon 
General orders to Capt. William Herod 



PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE 

[Summary of a letter from Gov. Patrick Henry to Col. Dor- 
sey Pentecost, in Crumrine, History of Washington County, 
Pennsylvania, p. 185.] 

This letter, dated Williamsburgh, Dec. 13, 1776, 
states that the danger of hostilities in the spring should 
cause measures to be taken to prepare the militia to 
act in the most efficient manner. Magazines are to 
be erected in Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio coun- 
ties,^* lead has been ordered sent to the frontier, and 
Captain Gibson's cargo of powder is expected. Spies 
should be kept out, and arms and accoutrements put 
in the best possible order. 



«*In October, 1776, the Virginia assembly defined the lim- 
its of West Augusta district, at the same time dividing it into 
three counties, Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia. For their 
militia officers see post. — Ed. 



224 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

SITUATION AT GRAVE CREEK 

[The inhabitants of Grave Creek to Capt. William Harrod. 
4NN44 — A. D. S.] 

Sir — we the Subscribers finding it impossible to De- 
fend ourselves against the Common Enemy of this 
Country by the Militia's being drawn away from this 
Garrison & if we do not Get Some Assistance Imme- 
diately we will be obliged to Quit this place it being 
the frontier fort & so near to the savage that we hope 
you will be so Kind as to Get as many of Your men 
as you Can to Stay to our Assistance as 'we under- 
stand you have a very great Influence over your men 
and as there is not any particular Orders for men to 
be Stationed at this place David Shephard Esq^. will 
find you & your men provisions while you stay here 
& we flatter ourselves At the same time that the Com- 
missioners for paying the former Militia will in no 
ways refuse to pay you & your men for this ' Service 
done the Country as well as those done by the former 
Cap*^ at this Place S^. your Complyance in this re- 
quest will very much oblige y^. very Humble Servants 

Grave Creek fort 

2^ January 1777 

Yates ConwelU Zephaniah Blackford 

James Williams Morgan Jones 

Matthew Karr Charles M^Clean 

Joseph Tomlinson James Caldwell 

Stephen Parr John Williams 

David M^^Clure ' William M^Mechen 
Samuel Harris Sen 
To Capt Wm Harrod at Grave Creek 



A MILITIA FLEDGE 



225 



[Agreement to serve in the militia. 4NN45 — A. D. S.] 

We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed do a^ree 
to Join Cap^ W"^ Herrods Comp^ and Serve under 
him as Militia Soldiers to Assist the Inhabitants of 
Grave Creek fort to Defend themselves against the 
Savages for a Term of Time Not Exceeding fifteen 
days & as the same is done without proper orders we 
do agree to run the risk of the Colony's paying us for 
the same he the s^ Cap^ Herrod is to make ' proper 
Application if the s^ Colony does not pay the s*^ Cap* 
Herrod In behalf of us we agree to Loose the same 
provided that David Shepherd Esq^*. finds us provis- 
ions during the time at his proper risk as witness 
our hands this 2^ day of January 1777 



Joseph M^Clain 
John M^Clain 
James Harris 
Stephen Harris 
Thomas Knox 
George Knox 
James M^Mechen 
Joseph Alexander 
Adam Row 
Francis Purcell 



Paul Armstrong 
Matthew Kerr 
Samuel Stilwell 
John Boyd 
Michael Flood 
Joseph Glen 
Adam Row Jun. 
James Davis 
John Harkness 
Phillip O Finn 



15 



226 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OTJIO 



SUPPLIES FROM NEW ORLEANS 

[Col. IX>rsey Pentecost to Capt William Harrod. 4NN46 — 

A. L. S.] 

YouGHiOGHENY CouNTY January 28^"^ 1777 
Captain William Harrod 

Sir — I have received his Excellency the Governor's 
directions to endeavour to find out where Captain Gib- 
sons Cargo of Powder is.^^ In consequence of which 
I am to order that you do with all possible expedition 
raise a Company of Fifty privates in Conjunction and 
with the assistance of Lieutenant Nathan Hammond 
and Ensign Andrew Steel,^® with whom, and under 



®" Capt. George Gibson and Lieut. William Linn left Fort 
Pitt July 19, 1776, and reached New Orleans some time in 
August. There, aided by Oliver Pollock, they succeeded in 
purchasing ten thousand pounds of gunpowder for $1800. Gib- 
son was at one time thrown into prison by a concerted ar- 
rangement with the Spanish governor, to mislead the British 
'%^' spies in the town. He got off by ship in October, and safely 
^, conveyed to Virginia a large portion of the powder. 

^ Meanwhile, Lieutenant Linn, set out Sept. 22, 1776, to re- 

turn to Fort Pitt by way of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. 
He reached the Spanish post on the Arkansas Nov. 26, and 
was cordially received by its commandant. Owing to the ill- 
ness of his men and the lack of provisions, he determined to 
winter at this post, hunting and drying meat for the return 
voyage in the spring ; see his letter to Pollock from Arkansas 
Post, transcribed in Draper MSS., 60J277. After leaving the 
Arkansas, Linn sent an express to St. Louis for aid ; but fear- 
ing the consequences, he hastened to pass the mouth of Ohio 
before the appointed date, and later learned that he thus es- 
caped capture by a party of Indians, engaged, no doubt, by 
the Spanish authorities, to intercept him. The powder and 
boats were portaged by hand around the Falls of the^ Ohio 
(Louisville). The British obtained information of this ex- 
ploit after his passage. See Wis. Hist. Colls., vii, p. 407.— Ed. 
««Both these officers had been concerned in the first settle- 
ment of Kentucky. Nathan Hammond first visited that coun- 
try in 1773. In 1775 he was one of the founders of Boiling 



SPANISH POWDER 227 

your Command, you are Immediately to proceed down 
the Ohio, taking all possible Care to examine Stricktly 
the mouth of all Creeks and ' Rivers which you pass, 
& when you arrive at the Mouth of Kentucke or at 
the Falls of Ohio, I think it would be advisable to 
send to Harrod's-Burgh,^^ and make inquiry after Cap* 
tain Linn & the said Cargoe, whom you are to con- 
duct with the utmost Safety agreeable to these In- 
structions. If you should not fall in with Captain 
Linn (who superintends and Conducts the said Car- 
go) before you arrive at the Mouth of Ohio, I think 
it will be necessary that you pass up the Mississippi 
to the Kaskaskias Village,^^ where you will make in- 

Springs settlement, and a delegate thence to the Transylvania 
legislature at Boonesborough. He probably returned up the 
Ohio during the alarm of 1776. He was later in Kentucky, 
being killed by the Indians before 1780, probably on Ham- 
mond's Creek in Anderson County. 

Andrew Steel was one of the party with Joseph Lindsay, 
who re-inforced Harrodsburgh in 1775, and camped on the 
site of Lexington. He was recorded as a lot-holder in Louis- 
ville in 1779. — Ed. 

^'^ Linn sent overland to Harrodsburgh an express, who ar- 
rived there March 9, bringing needful succor. Clark, in his 
manuscript diary, gives the name of this messenger as Eben- 
ezer Corn. — Ed. 

®^ It seems curious that the American authorities should ex- 
pect to find their cargo of supplies at a village guarded by a 
British post; but doubtless they already counted on the sym- 
pathy of the French habitants with the American cause, which 
later was of great assistance to George Rogers Clark. More- 
over, there were a number of American traders at the vil- 
lage, some of whom did supply Linn on his return voyage. 
See C. W. Alvord, "Cahokia Records," in Illinois Historical 
Collections (Springfield, 1907), ii, p. xxxiii. 

Kaskaskia was probably the oldest French settlement in the 
West, being begun about 1700, and having ia continuous his- 
tory since that time. In 1719 it was erected into a parish, and 
in 1765 transferred from French to British authority, under 
which latter it remained until its capture by George Rogers 



228 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

quiry & probably meet with Captain Linn with his 
Cargo, & if you don't meet him before you get there, 
when you meet him, you will conduct him with the 
utmost Safety and the said Cargo up to the House 
of James Austurgass on the Monongahela River, & 
immediately advise me thereof. I desire that all pos- 
sible care may be observed, as I have great reason to 
apprehend Danger from the Savages. If you hear 
nothing of Captain Linn at the aforesaid places, you 
will proceed on untill you meet him. If you find it 
conducive to the good of the Service you are ordered 
upon, you will engage the necessary Interpreter or 
Interpreters, who should be worthy, Trusty persons. 
Colonel David Shepherd will furnish you with Beef, 
Pork, and Craft, at the mouth of Grave Creek; and 
your Lieutenant will apply to Joseph Parkison^^ for 
flour & Salt, & send him to my house for the neces- 
sary Ammunition. You will not fail to leave proper 
Spies on the River Ohio, in case you move up to Har- 
rod's-Burgh, & at the mouth of Ohio, in case you 

Clark in 1778. Organized by the Americans as the Illinois 
County of Virginia, it so remained until 1789, when it became 
part of the Northwest territory. Kaskaskia was the capital 
UQtil the organization of the state, when the records of the 
commonwealth were transferred to Vandaha (1819). The 
early French, British, and American records have lately been 
recovered, largely through tTie personal efforts of Professor 
Alvord. The site of old Kaskaskia is now almost entirely cov- 
ered by the Mississippi River. — Ed. 

^9 Joseph Parkison was of EngHsh descent and came from 
Conococheague settlement in 1770. He bought land on what 
is now the site of Monongahela City, Washington County, Pa., 
where he established a ferry (well-known in the annals of the 
Whiskey Rebellion), and kept a tavern as well as a store for 
general merchandize. He laid out Williamsport on his land in 
1796— a name changed in 1835 to Monongahela City. — Ed. 



ORGANIZING MILITIA 229 

go up to the Kaskaskias Village, lest Captain Linn 
should Slip your Notice in the Interim. Depending 
on your Strict adherence to these Instructions, I have 
the pleasure of being 

Sir Your mo: obed*. Serv*. 

DoRSEY Pentecost 
County Leu*, of Yohogania 
P. S. If you run out of Provisions ammunition or 
any other article necessary for your Subsistance, or 
by any wise to Facilitate the Expedition, you will pur- 
chase it, & draw on Government or me for the Pay, 
which Shall Punctually be paid but I must once more 
recommend the utmost Frugality, Prudence and Good 
Conduct 

I am &c. 

DoRSEY Pentecost 

C. L. Y. C. 
On the Public Service 
CaptD. William Her rod 
on his Way to the Mississippi 



MILITIA ARRANGEMENTS 

[Col. Zackwell Morgan to Capt. William Harrod. 4NN53 — 
A. L. S.] 

You are hearby Required to Draught one Liu^ 
[Lieutenant] and one Sar* and fifteen men of your 
Company to Randevouse at the hous of John Swarin- 
gans^^ under the command of Cap* Abner Howel up- 

''ojohn Swearingen, originally of Dutch ancestry, removed 
from Maryland as early as 1770, and settled in what is now 
Springhill township, on the cross-road between Cheat River 



27,0 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



on the first notis which by his Excelencis Express 
Desire is to be appinted the Place of Randevouse for 
this County and as a General Dra[u]ght is now mak- 
ing Which you will Strictly observe Gaven under my 
hand this 31 Day of January 1777 

Zack^^ Morgan ^^ 
To Capt William Harrod 



[Orders of the Executive Council of Virginia. 13S112 — 
transcript by L. C. D.] 

Feb. 12th, 1777. Colonel Pentecost to cause 100 
militia under proper officers of Yohogania County to 
garrison Fort Pitt until relieved by regulars. 

That two companies of men be raised to garrison 
Forts Pitt and Randolph, under Capts. Robert Camp- 
bell and John Robinson.'^^ Thady Kelley and Andrew 



and Redstone. His son Van was a famous captain in the 
Revolution, and father-in-law of Capt. Samuel Brady. John 
was still, in 1785, a resident of what is now Fayette County, 
Pa.— Ed. 

'^i Zackwell Morgan was of Welsh descent, and with his 
brother David emigrated from Berkeley County, Va., about 
1768, to the present site of Morgantown. Here Zackwell set- 
tled and laid out the town about 1785. A family tradition re- 
lates that he served under Forbes in the French and Indian 
War. During the Revolution he was lieutenant for Monon- 
gaha County. In 1755 he married Drusilla Springer, and had 
several sons, two of whom, Levi and James, were noted scouts, 
and served in St. Clair's army in 1791. Morgan gave these 
orders to Harrod as a result of resolutions adopted at a coun- 
cil of war held at Catfish Creek, Jan. 28; see Crumrine, Wash- 
ington County, Pa., p. 186. — Ed. 

72 Robert Campbell was a half-brother of Col. John Camp- 
bell. He made his home in Pittsburgh, but later removed to 



ORGANIZING MILITIA 



231 



M^Clure 1st lieutenants, William Anderson and James 
Brenton''^ 2nd lieutenants, John Ward and George 
Willis ensigns — all to serve during the war; Captain 
Campbell, Lieuts. Kelley and Anderson and Ensign 
Ward with their company to command the garrison 
at Fort Pitt; Captain Robinson, Lieuts. M^Clure and 
Brenton and Ensign Willis at Fort Randolph. John 
Campbell of Pittsburgh "^^ to provision the 200 men 
at Fort Pitt. 



Jefferson County, Kentucky, where he died without heirs some- 
time before 1806. 

John Robinson was a captain of the Washington County 
(Pa.) militia in 1784. He probably lived on Robinson's Run 
in that county. — Ed. 

^^Thady Kelley was a noted spy and ranger, one of those 
who led McDonald's expedition in 1774. 

The McClures lived on Ten Mile Creek, and were prominent 
in that region. 

William Anderson had a farm near Raccoon Creek, Wash- 
ington County, Pa. In 1779 he was wounded by Indians, es- 
caped to Billow's blockhouse, ctnd was saved. One of his 
name acted as deputy muster-master at Fort Mcintosh in 
1779, and afterwards resided in Mercer County, Pa., until 1806. 

James Brenton (or Brinton) had been out with McDonald 
in 1774, and after ranging throughout 1777, and serving with 
Hand in the spring of 1778, commanded a company on Mc- 
intosh's expedition. Later he was a major on Crawford's 
Sandusky expedition (1782), and although slightly wounded, 
returned to his home in Washington County. After the Revo- 
lution he removed to Kentucky, and lived in Mercer County, 
where he was killed by the Indians about 1788. — Ed. 

^* Col. John Campbell was an Irishman by birth, who came 
to America while young, and going West entered the Indian 
trade. In 1764 he laid off a town on the present site of Pitts- 
burgh. In 1774 he was at the Falls of Ohio (Louisville), 
where he purchased a large tract of land adjoining Connolly's, 
During the early Revolution he acted as commissary at Fort 
Pitt. In the summer of 1779, he was on a visit to the Falls of 
Ohio, where he took passage with Col. David Rogers's party 
from New Orleans on their return journey up the river. Near 
Cincinnati, Rogers was defeated by a large force of Indians, 
who captured Campbell. The latter was taken to Detroit, and 



232 



REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



[Gov. Patrick Henry to Maj. David Rogers^" 1SS39 — 
A. L: S.] 

WiLLIAMSBURGH Feb. 13^^. 1777 

Sir — You are to cause fifty men of your Militia 
most proper for the purpose to be stationed at the 
Mouth of the Httle Kanhawa, & also fifty others at 
the Mouth of Wheeling, under the proper ofiicers for 



ultimately to Quebec, where because of his open defiance the 
British refused to have him exchanged until the very close of 
the Revolution. In 1784 he took up his residence near Louis- 
ville, where he was for a time chairman of the trustees for 
Clark's Grant in Indiana. He was sent to the Virginia legis- 
lature from Kentucky, was member of the constitutional con- 
vention of 1792, and speaker of the Kentucky senate in 1798. 
He died the following year, leaving a large estate to collateral 
heirs. — Ed. 

75 David Rogers was a native of Ireland who early emigrated 
to America, and settled as 2, merchant at Oldtown, Md. In 
1775 he made a settlement five miles above Wheeling, on the 
Ohio, and marched a company to Pittsburgh. The following 
year, he represented West Augusta district in the Virginia leg- 
islature, and was appointed captain in the continental service. 
For some reason he did not quaHfy, and being the best-known 
resident was appointed March 4, ^777, as county-lieutenant for 
the new Ohio County. In April he was re-elected to the Vir- 
ginia senate. The Indian forays, however, made his settle- 
ment unsafe, and he removed back to Mount Braddock, in the 
present Fayette County, Pa., where he resigned his county- 
lieutenantship, whereupon David Shepherd was (June, 1777) 
appointed in his stead. Later he married the widow of Capt. 
Michael Cresap, and located on the Potomac in Hampshire 
County. Early in 1778, he was chosen a special envoy to New 
Orleans to convey goods thence to the Western states. Leav- 
ing Pittsburgh in June, he reached New Orleans in September, 
and found that his goods were awaiting him at St. Louis. 
These secured, he obtained an additional guard at the Falls 
of Ohio from George Rogers Clark. While ascending the 
river he and his convoy were waylaid (Oct. 4, 1779) by a large 
party of Indians, just above the mouth of the Licking, all 
being captured save thirteen. Rogers was himself killed by 
Simon Girty, who later boasted of the dvied.— Ed. 




Gov. Patrick Henry 

After the painting by Sully 



ORGANIZING MILITIA 233 

the Defence of those posts & the neighbouring Inhabi- 
tants until further orders. 

I address my self to you on this occasion not know- 
ing who is the superior officer in the county where 
[you] reside. 

I should be glad to hear what is become of the 
powder Cap^. Gibson purchased at Orleans & what you 
have done in the Business of buying provisions. I 
am Sir y^. mo. hble serv*. 

P. Henry J'^. 

To Major Rogers of Ohio by MJ" Kelly 



[Orders o£ the Virginia Council. 13S109 — transcript by 
L. C. D.] 

March 4, 1777. John Campbell appointed and com- 
missioned County Lieutenant, John Cannon Colonel, 
Thomas Brown Lt. Colonel, and Henry Taylor, Ma- 
jor, of the county of Yohogania.'^^ 

David Rogers county Lieutenant, David Shepherd 



^® Col. Thomas Brown was an early settler (1768) on the 
Monongahela. In 1776 he bought Cresap's property on the 
site of Redstone Old Fort, and in 1785 laid out the town 
called from his name, Brownsville. He died in 1797, aged 
fifty-nine years, leaving two sons and three daughters. 

Maj. Henry Taylor came from Maryland in 1770, and set- 
tled just north of the present town of Washington. In 
December, 1777, he resigned his position as major, being suc- 
ceeded by Gabriel Cox. Taylor was the first presiding judge 
of Washington County, and in 1793 brigadier-general of 
militia. In the latter capacity he aided Wayne in his cam- 
paign (1794). Major Taylor died in 1801 in the sixty-third 
year of his age. — Ed. 



234 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Colonel, David M^Clure Lt. Colonel, and Samuel M*^- 
Colloch Major of Ohio County J'' 



[Officers of Monongalia County. 3NN128-130 — transcript 
by L. C. D.] 

Monongalia Co: V^^. April, 1777 
Zackquill Morgan, County Lt., Col. Danl M^Far- 
land, Lt. Col., Thos. Gaddis, Maj. John Evans J^ 



'■'' David McClure was a prominent resident of the Grave 
Creek locality. He continued as lieutenant-colonel of the 
county until his death, which occurred about 1788. 

Maj. Samuel McColloch was a noted borderer, born in 
1750, who came about 1770 from the South Branch of the 
Potomac to the waters of Short Creek. In the autumn of 
1777, while bringing relief to the besieged at Fort Henry, he 
was set upon by Indians, and escaped by leaping his horse 
over a precipice two hundred feet high. In 1779 he was 
elected to represent Ohio County in the Virginia legislature, 
and was out with Brodhead on the latter's campaign. He was 
in charge of Van Metre's fort on Short Creek during the 
Revolution, being shot and mortally wounded by Indians not 
far from that fort (July 30, 1782).— Ed. 

^s Col, Thomas Gaddis settled (1769) in what is now Fayette 
County, near the site of Uniontown, He was later a mihtia 
officer for Westmoreland County, Pa., and having volunteered 
for Crawford's expedition (1782) was elected by the troop as 
field-major (third in command). He conducted a distillery 
upon his premises and was active in the Whiskey Rebellion. 
About 1816 he sold his farm and removed to the Miami region 
of Ohio, where he died. 

John Evans was of Welsh descent, and born in Loudoun 
County, Virginia. He was an early settler on Decker's 
Creek, near the Morgans' settlement on the Monongahela, 
his estate being known as "Walnut Hills." He was out 
with Mcintosh in 1778, colonel under Brodhead in 1779, and 
prominent in militia affairs throughout the Revolution. He 
died at his home in Monongalia County in 1834, aged ninety- 
six years. His son Capt. Jack Evans was a prominent^ scout 
in the Indian wars, and his descendants still live in the vicinity 
of his West Virginia home. — Ed. 



ORGANIZING MILITIA 235 

Capt. Harrod & company then at Grave Creek from 
Monongalia County. 

Capt^, Jesse Pigman, John Minor, W^. M^Cleeiry, 
Charles Craycraft, Henry Enoch, Abraham Teegar- 
din, Thomas Crooke, Jacob Prickett, John Hord, & 
Jacob Rich:'^ That Capts. Pigman & Henry Enoch 
raise two companies to go under Col. Shepherd against 
Pluggy's Town. 



■^9 The early records of Monongalia County were burned, 
so that it is not possible to identify all of these captains. 

Jesse Pigman, who made a settlement in Monongalia 
County in 1773, was a member of the grand jury for Augusta 
County in 1775. 

John Minor commanded at Statler Fort, having come to the 
Monongahela region as early as 1764. He had a large estate 
near the forks of Cheat River and built there the first flour- 
mill of the region. Upon his land coming within Penn- 
sylvania he became (1791) a mernber of the legislature of that 
state, and secured the erection of Greene County. He aided 
in building the boats for Clark's expedition (1778), and 
traded to New Orleans. He died in 1833 in his ninetieth year. 

William McCleary was a prominent lawyer of what is now 
Monongalia County, W. Va. He acted at one time as com- 
missary for the forts, and was colonel of the militia in 1784. 
He also served as attorney-general for the county court un- 
til his decease some time after 1810. 

Charles Cracroft was born near Frederick, Maryland, but 
lived near Harper's Ferry until his removal to the West in 
1774, when he settled near Van Buren, Washington County, 
Pa. In 1779 he was out as major, with Brodhead, and two 
years later volunteered under Clark, being captured with 
Lochry's detachment, and imprisoned at Quebec until the close 
of the Revolution. He died on his farm in 1824. 

Abram Teagarden and his brother William settled first at 
Redstone, and later moved into Greene County, Pa., on the up- 
per waters of Wheehng Creek. Two of the second generation 
served in Wayne's campaign. 

Jacob Prickett belonged to the family who forted on the 
Monongahela in what is now Marion County, W. Va. The 
fort was attacked in 1774, and Josiah Prickett killed. — Ed. 



236 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 



[Gov. Patrick Henry to Col. David Rogers. 1SS41 — 
A. L. S.] 

Wmsburgh, March 4*11. 1777. 
Sir — I have to desire that the field officeirs of your 
county will fill up the commissions herewith sent for 
the proper Captains & subaltern officers of your mili- 
tia. 

I am Sir Y^. mo. hb^ serv*. 

P. Henry. J^ 
In Council. 
Coty. Lieutent. of Ohio Coty. 



PliXTGGY'S TOWN EXPEDITION ORDERED 

[Orders of the Virginia Council. 1SS43 — A. !>• S.] 

In Council Wmsburg march 12 1777 
This Board having from time to time reciv<^, un- 
doubted Inteligence of Repeated hostilities Commited 
on the Subjects of this Commonwealth by the Indians 
of Pluggys Town and not Withstanding the Just Re- 
monstrances made to them by our Agents for Indian 
Affairs they have not been Brought to a Sense of 
Duty, but from their repeated Injurys there is the 
greatest Reason to Expect increased Insolence in Stead 
of that good Neighbourhood we wish to Cultivate 
with all the Indian Tribes, and whearas the obsti- 
nate and wicked Disposition of the Said Indians of 
Pluggy's Town have been Represented to Congress, 
and they Seem to have no prospects of Conciliation 
but have referd to this Board the Proprity of making 
war on them if it can be done without exciting the 



A PUNITIVE EXPEDITION 2.17 

jealousy & discord with the other Neighbouring Na- 
tions.^^ 

Resolved, that George morgan Esq'^. Superintend 
dent of Indian Affairs and Colonel John Nevill (or 
in case of his absence Robert Campbell Esq^.) do 
Confer with Such Chief or Chiefs of the Delewares 
and Shawnese Indians as may be Rely'd on for Sec- 
recy and fidelity and Represent to them the Necessity 
of Chastising the S^. Indians and in Case the S*^. 
gentlemen Shall find that the said Shawneeses and 
Delewares do not give Reason to apprehend Discord 
with them by Reason of Such a Proceeding Resolved 

That 300 militia men commanded by a Col^ Major 
six Captains six , Lieutenants six Ensigns and a Proper 
number of noncommissioned officers be drdered to 
make an Expedition to said Pluggys Town in order 
to Punish that People for their unprovoked Crueltys 
Commited on the Inhabitants of Virginia 

That the officers commanding this Expedition have 
it in Charge at their peril and that all those Concernd 
that no Injurys provocation or ill treatment of Any 
kind Be done or Suffered to the Delewares and Shaw- 
nees Indians through Whose Country they Pass, 
But on the other hand that the said officers be Strictly 
charged and commanded to conduct them Selves to- 
wards them, as our faithful Friends and Brethren 
Government being Detirmined to revenge the Least 
Injury done them 

That the officers commanding the Expedition apply 

80 February 27, 1777, Congress resolved to request Virginia 
to consider the propriety of an expedition against Pluggy's 
Town, and these orders were issued in consequence of that 
request; see Journals of Congress (new ed.), vii, p. 166. — Ed. 



238 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

to George Morgan Esq^. for amunition Provisions 
and Stores necesary for the Party who is Requested 
to give any assistance in his Power [to] forward the 
undertaking 

That the Commanding officer ought to be directed 
to Shew mercy to the Women and Children and to 
such of the men as Surrender them Selves and to 
Send all Prisoners taken by his Party belonging to 
S^. Pluggys Town to this City and as the Success of 
this Expedition will Depend upon the Dispatch with 
which it is conducted Resolved That if a majority 
of the field officers and Captains who are to be en- 
gaged in it shall judge it best, that the men Shall be 
Directed to mairch on horse Back finding their own 
horses and carrying their own Provisions and that 
they ought to receive a Reasonable allowance for so 
Doing 

That CoF. David Shepherd of Ohio Coty be Com- 
mander in Chief of the Expedition that Major hinry 
Taylor of Yoghyogania Coty be the major and that 
they nominate the Captains and Subaltirn officers out 
of those Commissioned In the Cotys of monnonga- 
hale Yoghyagane & ohio Counties or Either of 
them^i 

Arch Blair ^^ clerk 

A Copy 



^1 These orders are likewise printed in Penna. Archives, v. 
pp. 258-260, accompanied by a personal letter from Patrick 
Henry to Morgan and Neville, emphasizing the delicacy and 
secrecy needed to be observed. See also Bausman, Beaver 
County, p. y^. — Ed. 

«2 Archibald Blair (1753-1824) was a native of Williams- 
burgh, and a relative of Rev. James Blair, first president of 
William and Mary College. He was clerk of the committee 



SHORT OF PROVISIONS 239 

[Gov. Patrick Henry to Col. David Rogers. 1SS45 — A. L. S.] 

Wms.burgh March 13*11. 1777 
Sir — You vv^ill please give to Col^. Shepherd & 
Major Taylor all the assistance v/hich is requisite in 
raising & preparing three hundred men for an Ex- 
pedition ag*. Pluggys Town. I do not mean to re- 
strict these gent^. to any par[ticu]lar Coty in getting 
the proper Number of Militia, but hope every one 
on y^. side of the Mountains will exert himself to 
give success to this measure. I am Sir Y^. hbl serv*. 

P. Henry p. 
The Cot3^ Lieuten*. of Ohio 



REINFORCEMENTS FOR FORT RANDOLPH 

[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ9 — A. L. S.] 

Greenbrier March ye 21st 1777 
D'* Sir — As I informed you by Wilson of the 
apointment for assembling the draughts on this quarter 
ye 20*^ Inst, they meet accordingly, & altho I had 
made the strictest enquirey for bacon &c. for the 
march it was out of my power to procure one pound. 
I therefore ordered those who were willing to go to 
provide each man 10 days provision (which I thing 
is little anugh to march the distance at this season) 
and to be (ready to march on monday y® 21^* Inst, 
but as a number has refused upon their draughts I 

of safety, and then of the Virginia council from the outbreak 
of the Revolution until 1800. In 1789 he married Mary Whit- 
ing, by whom he left three children. — Ed. 



240 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

am convinced there will not be a company of 50 men, 
I therefore thought it would, be proper to aquaint you 
& would be glad to know whether it will be worth 
my while to go with what is willing which I believe 
will not be more than 30 or thereabouts or send them 
with Lieut. Ward,^^ & have another draught made 
and march after them myself, if the company can be 
made up, but as Cap^ Arbuckle is Just come from 
Williamsburg & informes me that the governor & 
Council has petitioned the congress for continueing 
the regulars on the Ohio I am in hopes there will be 
no occasion for going at this time, as it will be at- 
tended with much inconvenience to many of the 
people, but of this I make no doubt you have Rec^ 
notice by now, but if the case is that we must go I 
think it would be highly necessary to prosecute the 
delinquents who has refused their draughts, & it will 
be the more effectually done if each particular Cap*. 
Receive your orders for that purpose, as well as for 
draughting the proportion of the next division for 
compleating the company otherwise it appears to me 
they will in a short time pay but little respect to 
authority. I did every thing in my power to assemble 
such as engaged volunteers w* Cap* Byrnside before 
I Rec^ your last by M^ Madison but to no purpose 



83 Lieutenant Ward was without doubt a nephew of Capt. 
Matthew Arbuckle, and son of Capt. James Ward who was 
slain at Point Pleasant (see Dunmore's War, p. 276, note 93). 
There were several sons in the Ward family, of whom the eld- 
est at home was William. He afterwards removed to Mason 
County, Ky., where he served in the state legislature (1792- 
95). About 1800 he removed to Ohio, where in 1804 he laid 
out the town of Urbana, in Champaign County. He died in 
this neighborhood in 1822. — Ed. 



AT FORT RANDOLPH 241 

for there was never more than a dozen appeared [at] 
once I shall be glad how soon the messenger can re- 
turn that I may know how to proceed 
I am your most Humb^ Serv* 

John Stewart 

N. B. please to send me some each [itch] oint- 
ment by the bearer J. S. 

Since I wrote a soldier of Cap^ Arbuckles arived 
from for[t] Randolph who Informs that they had 
but 3 or four days provision when he Left that and 
that the soldiers were determined to abandon the 
garrison in a few days unless a supply came from 
for[t] pitt, which was expected, the same person 
Informs he was sent by Lieut. Thompson who had 
been up the new river for corn, to the inhabitants 
there about Kelleys^* to let them know there was a 
party of Indians coming up the river which was dis- 
covered shooting Turkeys the particulars of this I 
cannot inform you as I did not see the man but had 
it from Cap* Arbuckle 

J. s. 

On publick service to 

Colo. William Fleming Botetourt pr express 



^* For the location of Kelly's place see Dunmore's War, p. 
112, note 62. — Ed. 



16 



242 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

SITUATION AT WHEELING 

[Col. David Shepherd to Gov. Patrick Henry (?). iSS47 — 
A. L., draft in Shepherd's handwriting.] 

Weelin or Ohio County March 24^ 1777 
Sir — By a Letter Directed to Maj^ David Rogers 
and Likewise the Order in Council of the 12 of Feb- 
ruary it was ordered that this County Should Send 
fifty men to the Little Kanawa and fifty men to the 
Mouth of Whelin, application being made to me I 
Called a council for' that purpose of the field officers 
and Captins of the County and after Considering the 
State of the County and Our Militia not Consisting 
of more than 350 Affective men and having a fron- 
tier of Eighty Miles and that Laying the Nearest 
and most Exposed to the Indians and the Late alarm- 
ing accounts from' the Indian towns ^* I Receiv'* 
Inteliganc by way of the Kanaway that they have 
Burnt one white prisoner at the Shawnee towns Lately 
which alarms the people very much suposed to be a 
Soldier Named Elijah Matthews taken at Grave 
Creek, under those and many other Surcomstances 
of the Like Nature, and no garison being Built at the 
Littl.^ Kanaway and there Never been any men at 
that Station I hope Sir under those Sircomstances 



■5 See post for O'Hara's account of a war-party leaving the 
Shawnee towns. Early in March also, a band of Shawnee 
under Blackfish began to harry the few Kentucky settlements, 
hovering around Harrodsburgh, killing William Ray and cap- 
turing Thomas Shores, and attacking the fort itself on the 
morning of the 7th. The defenders sallied forth, and drove 
them away, with losses on each side. The same day a de- 
tached party of Indians appeared before Boonesborough, and 
before refuge was found in the fort killed and wounded two 
persons. See Draper MSS., 4B115-117. — Ei). 



AT WHEELING 243 

you will not Consider our Disobaying of orders a 
breach of trust or Disafected to the Commonwelth 
ass our pressing Necessity forced it to we therefore 
thought it proper to order fifty of our militia to Whe- 
lin and fifty more to grave Creek and twenty five to 
the Beach Bottom ^^ which places appeared to us to 
be the most fiting to Defend us against the Indians 
and protect the Inhabitants of this and part of the 
other Countys. according to your former order we 
have sent spies towards the Indian Country one 
part[y] of which Come across a party of Indians in 
Camp and fired on them wounded one which got 
of[f] by the assistance of the Rest a deep creek be- 
ing betwen them they got clear they Lef their Kit- 
tle a Number of Bows and arrows and had all the 
appeirance of woryers [warriors]. 



[Col. David Shepherd to (?). 1SS48 — A. L., draft in Shep- 
herd's handwriting.] 

Weelin March 24th 1777 
Sir— Please to Send by the Barer Daniel M<=Clane 
the Barril of Powder which I chose and Likewise 
163^^ of Lead and 300 flints I should take it ass a 
great favour if you could Supply me with a Bar off 
Steel to Repair gunlocks and other things for the use 
of the militia that is Stationed on the River I hope 



«• Beech Bottom Fort stood about three miles below Wells- 
burgh, and twelve above Wheeling, in what is now Buffalo 
District, Brooke County. It protected the settlement of the 
Hedges family. Occupied only in 1777J its history is related 
in subsequent documents. — Ed. 



244 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

you will give Some Direction for the Victualing the 
Militia that will be Stationed at grave Creek Whelin 
an the Beach Bottom ass in our Council it was not 
thought proper to Send men to the Little Conway 
and Leave our frontiers Defenceless and ass there 
was No garison built there Neither had we Di- 
rections for that purpose if we had the men to Spare 
it was thought proper 



ALLIES TO BE PROTECTED 

[Gov. Patrick Henry to the County Lieutenant of Ohio. 
1SS49— A. L. S.] 

Wms.burgh March 27*1^. 1777 
Sir — I have rec*^. Information that the Delaware 
Indians apprehend a dangerous War with our 
Enemys, on account of their Fidelity to us. You are 
to use every means in your power to protect them. 
If they demand it, you are to send a party of Men 
to their Towns if in Virginia to assist them in build* 
Forts, & in such a Number as the Exigency of Af- 
fairs makes necessary. While there they are to de- 
fend our faithfull allys to the last Extremity. If the 
Indians chuse to come into our settlements for Shel- 
ter, make them Welcome, & share with them all your 
provisions ammunition warlike stores as long as any 
lasts to divide. Any Injury done them, is done to 
us while they are faithfull. In one Word, support 
protect defend & cherish them in every Respect to 
the utmost. Act in concert with the Neighbouring 



IROQUOIS HOSTILE 245 

counties & communicate these orders to M^. Morgan 
the Agent & the commanders of the Regulars. 
I am Sir Y"^. hble serv*. 

P. Henry y. 
The County Lieutenant of Ohio 



THE SIX NATIONS HOSTILE 

(Col. Zackwell Morgan to Capt. William Harrod. 4NNS6— 
A. L. S.] 

April 2d 1777 
I received your Letter by Mr McLaughlin, and have 
sent you 17^ Pounds Powder. I have not one Sin- 
gle Pound of Lead, here but shall Endeavour to sup- 
ply you with some, on Monday, pray, try to have 
your whole Company together as soon as Possible, at 
Grave Creek & keep a sharp Lookout, for fear of the 
Indians I am informed Col^. Shepherd has Em- 
ployed a man to refit the Battoe, but if you want 
Pitch or Oakum, for it you must Send to M'^. Robert 
Campbell, at fort Pitt, who will Supply you those 
articles, be very active as much Depends on your 
Good Conduct, at Grave Creek. The Six nations 
have killd one man & taken another at the Kittaning 
and have Ordered us all to Quite [quit] this Coun- 
try, directly in Writting, besides their Leaving the Im- 
plements of Warr, Common to them, when they De- 
clare War*'' This is Confirmed by the Delawares, 



■^"^ Early in 1777 the British officers at Niagara had, in obedl 
cnce to instructions from headquarters, sent out the Indians 
against the frontiers. February 14, they captured Andrew 
McFarlane near the Kittanning fort. A month later, as Capt. 



246 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

and I think there is no Dispute of a War, with the 
Villians. 

M"*. Chew®^ will bring Provisions, Amunition & 
Sufficient for your Journey Down the River Which 
I hope will be Prosperious, about the first of May 
[have] all things in readiness, when I hope no more 
Delays [will] Stop this Necessary Journey 
I am your Friend & Hble Ser* 

Zack^^ Morgan 
William Harrod, Esqr 



Samuel Moorhead was returning from the fort to recruit, he 
found (March 18) one by the name of Simpson killed, and 
his own brother, who had been with him, captured. By the 
corpse was a war-belt, a tomahawk, and a pouch containing 
a letter addressed to the inhabitants; for this letter, see Hil- 
dreth, Pioneer History of the Ohio Valley, p. 117. It was to 
this incident that Morgan refers; see Pennsylvania Historical 
Register, 2nd series, ii, p. 235. Ihat the Six Nations were 
sent out by British orders is proven by the letters of Guy 
Johnson in N. Y. Colon. Docs., viii, pp. 711-713. — Ed. 

88 Maj. James Chew belonged to the Virginia branch of that 
family, and was the youngest son of Thomas, for many years 
magistrate of Orange, then of Spottsylvania County. James's 
elder brother, Colby Chew, was an early explorer in Kentucky 
with Dr. Thomas Walker. James was for a time surveyor of 
Monongalia County, and appears to have acted as special agent 
and commissary for the Ohio forts. He married (1765) 
Mary Caldwell, and died before January 27, 1783. See 
Draper MSS., 5ZZ76.— Ed. 



OPERATIONS SUSPENDED 247 



PLUGGY'S TOWN EXPEDITION ABANDONED 

[Gov. Patrick Henry to Col. David Shepherd. 1SS51 — 
A. L. S.] 

Wms.burgh April I2tli. 1777. 
Sir — The Expedition against Pluggys Tov^n is to 
be laid aside by a Resolution of Congress.®^ 
I am Sir Y^. hble serv*. 

P. Henry 
Colo. David Shepherd, Ohio 
public Service by Express 



(John Page to Col. George Morgan and Col. John Nevill. 
1SS53 — transcript by Morgan.] 

Wms.burgh in Council April 15*11. 1777 
Gentlemen — As an Express was sent off to you 
last week in consequence of a vote of Congress to 
suspend the operations which were meditated against 
Pluggy's Town; and as Congress have under their 
consideration many of the important articles men- 
tion'd in your Letter now before us,®° & the ensuing 



*• This resolution of Congress was adopted March 25, upon 
the receipt of a letter from Col. George Morgan, dated the 
fifteenth of the same month; see Journals of Congress, new 
cd., vii, p. 201. The letter of Morgan is printed by Bausman, 
Beaver County, p. 69. In it he deprecates any expeditions into 
the Indian country "which may involve us in a general & 
unequal Quarrel with all the Nations who are at present quiet 
but extremely jealous of the least encroachment on their 
Lands." This letter determined the authorities to pursue a 
pacific policy, and act only upon the defensive. — Ed. 

»o Referring to their letter of April, i, 1777, printed in 
Penna, Archives, v. p. 288; Beaver County, p. 74; and Hil- 
dreth, Pioneer History of the Ohio Valley, pp. Ii9ri22. — Ed. 



248 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Assembly should be consulted on some of them — 
we can only at present recommend it to you to pre- 
vent an Indian War as far as lies in your power, & 
to be prepared against any attack in the best manner 
your situation will admit of 

I am Gent'^. Your most obed^ serv*. -^J 

John Page ' 
P. S. We are as much at a loss to know where 
St. Louis is, as you can be, but suppose it to be where 
you mention.®^ 
To Colo. George Morgan & 

Colo. John Nevill at Fort Pitt. 
To Colonel David Shepherd 92 Ohio County 
On the public Service By Express 

Reed. Fort Pitt April 27^^ 
Geo. Morgan 



[Gov. Patrick Henry to Col. John Nevill. 1SS55 — A. L- S.] 

Wms.burgh April 21, 1777. 
Sir — Your Despatches by Express arrived here last 
Saturday; in answer to which I can only refer you 
to my former Letters respecting the Expedition 
against Pluggy's Town and as that Business is, by 
order of Congress laid aside, You must on that ac- 



»i This was in reply to the following postscript to the letter 
mentioned in the foregoing note: "The County Lieutenant 
who is ordered to send 100 men to meet Cap. Lynn with the 
Powder, is at a loss to know how far to proceed, or where S*. 
Louis, on the Mississippi is — there being one place of that 
name 160 miles above the mouth of Ohio & no settlement or 
Fort less than 400 miles below the Ohio — the nearest is at the 
River Arkansa." — Ed, 

^2 This letter, copied by Morgan, was forwarded to Col. 
David Shepherd for his perusal. — Ed. 



PROTECTTHG THE FRONTIERS 249 

count incur no further Expence, indeed, as the Let- 
ter alluded to must have got to your Hands soon 
after the present Express set off I am in hopes it 
will give you full satisfaction with regard to all your 
Inquiries. 

We are just informed by Congress that they for 
some time past, have had the critical situation at Fort 
Pitt, under their consideration and have formed a 
Resolution of sending one thousand Rifles for the use 
of the garrison, and for supplying such of the mili- 
tia, as may be hereafter called upon to defend that 
Post.«» I am Sir 

Your mo. ob*. Serv*. 

P. Henry 

To Colo. John Nevill at Fort Pitt 
On public Service P. Express 



DEPREDATIONS ON THE FRONTIER 

[Col. William Crawford to President of Congress. 14S121 — 
transcript by L. C. D.] 

Fort Pitt, 22nd April, 1777. 
Honorable Sir — Having received orders to join 
his Excellency General Washington in the Jerseys 
with the battalion now under my command, which 
orders I would willingly have obeyed, had not a coun- 
cil of war held at this place (proceedings of which 
were transmitted to Congress by express) resolved 

88 See resolution of Congress April 9, 1777, in Journals, vii, 
p. 247. — Ed, 



250 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

that I should remain here until further orders.®* I 
am sorry to find the accounts therein contained are 
likely to prove but too true, and from the late dep- 
redations and murders which were committed by the 
Indians at different places in this neighbourhood, 
makes it appear to me as if a general irruption was 
threatened. On the 6th & 7th instant, they killed and 
scalped one man at Raccoon Creek, about twenty five 
miles from this place; at Muchmore's plantation, 
about forty five miles down the Ohio, they killed and 
scalped one man, and burnt a woman and her four 
children ; at Wheeling they killed and scalped one man, 
the body of whom was much mangled with tomahawks 
and other instruments suitable for their barbarity;*" 



»*For a brief sketch of Col. William Crawford see Dun- 
more's War, p. 103, note 48. Crawford, at first appointed lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the 5th Virginia, next took command of 
the 7th regiment. He was sent to West Augusta in the 
autumn of 1776 to raise a new contingent, later known as the 
13th (or West Augusta) regiment, enlisted on condition that if 
an Indian war should occur in the spring this command was 
to be retained in the West. The council of war to which 
Crawford refers was held at Fort Pitt, March 24, when it was 
determined that in view of the threatened dangers Crawford 
and his men should be retained on the frontier; see Butter- 
field, Washington-Crawford Letters, p. 65, note. This letter 
is also printed in that collection. In August, Crawford's 
regiment joined Washington near Philadelphia. — Ed. 

S5 For further particulars of these murders, see extract 
from Maryland Journal, post. Shadrach Muchmore^ died in 
1775, when his will was proven in West Augusta district. His 
widow appears to have married again, probably to a man 
named Arnot. A son, Jonathan Muchmore, was captive 
among the Indians ; see his affidavit in Beaver County, p. 151. 

The man killed at Raccoon Creek was a late emigrant from 
New Jersey, named Ogden. The one slain near Wheeling was 
Roger McBride. 

The Delawares had warned the settlements that a party of 



PROTECTING THE FRONTIERS 251 

at Dunkard's Creek, one of the west Branches of the 
Monongahela river, they killed and scalped one man 
and a woman and took three children;^® and at each 
of the above places they burned houses, killed cattle, 
hogs &c. 

I have taken all possible means for the protection 
of this country, as the nature of my circumstances 
would afford. I am at a great loss for arms ; two thirds 
of the battalion have none. Had I been at this post 
when the accounts of the above cruelties came here, 
I would have transmitted them immediately to you; 
but being busily employed in putting the battalion to 
proper stations for the frontiers,®^ this together with 
my bad state of health prevented my getting here 
sooner than the 18th instant, and finding that no au- 
thentic accounts had been transmitted to Congress, 
think it my duty to inform you of the above facts, 
and that I only wait further directions, as I have re- 
ceived no marching orders dated since the council 
held at this place resolved that I should wait till 
further orders. 

I am with the greatest respect y''. honours most 
obe*. and very humble serv*. 

W. Crawford 
Hon. J. Hancock, Prest. Congress 

eighteen Mingo were out with murderous intent; but the 
warning was not in time. See Hildreth, Pioneer History, p. 
123. — Ed. 

''•This was probably the attack on the family of William 
Morgan, assigned to the year 1778. See Thwaites, Withers's 
Chronicles of Border Warfare, p. 240. — Ed. 

•■^ The council of war of March 24 had determined that 
Crawford should send a hundred men to Kittanning, and sta- 
tion twenty-five each at Logstown, Holliday's Cove, and Cox's, 
upon the Ohio. — Ed. 



252 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

[Col. George Morgan to Col. David Shepherd. 1SS56 — 
A. L. S.l 

Fort Pitt May 3d 1777 
Sir — The within letter Col^ Nevill forwarded to 
me supposing it was intended for me & directed to 
him by mistake. M^. Macaster arrived yesterday & 
as you had sent him & I did not write to the Gov^. 
at all by him, & he tells me he has no Letter directed 
for you I suppose this was designed for you. I 
therefore embrace this first opportunity of sending 
it to you.^^ I desire you will store the Bacon you 
have bought in a very safe place under your own 
particular Care till further Orders & shall be glad to 
sug[gest that] we may settle & that I may take your 
Receipt for the Quantity 

I am D^. Sir Your most ob* Servant 

Geo: Morgan 
To Coll Shepherd. 



[Col. Zackwell Morgan to Capt. William Harrod. 4NN54 — 
A. L. S.] 

May 7 1777 
Dear Sir — As Cap* Lin is Got up with his Pow- 
der^® and no call for the men Down the River you 
will Pleast to Continue your Company at Grave 

^^ This refers to Gov. Patrick Henry's letter to Col. John 
Neville, dated April 21, ante. The letter of Morgan is written 
on tEe reverse of that sheet. — Ed. 

_ 99 Linn arrived at Wheeling May 2, 1777. He brought with 
him ten thousand pounds of gunpowder, according to an affi- 
davit filed by Col. David Shepherd, 1SS13, as follows: "Ohio 



PROTECTING THE FRONTIERS 253 

Creek untill the Express Returns from the Govenor 
for your being there is Looked on as a Grate safe 
Gard to us at this time Pleast send scouts Down 
about fish Creek and if you Should make any Dis- 
covery of any of the Dam theeves cuming in Pleast 
send in word Imediately from your friend and 

Humi> Sar* 

Zack^^ Morgan 
To Capt William Harrod, at Grave Creek 



[Transcribed by Draper from the Maryland Journal of Tues- 
day, May 20th, 1777.] 

Philadelphia, May 15. 
By a gentleman lately arrived from the Ohio, we 
have the following intelligence. About the beginning 
of last month Mr. James O'Hara^ was trading at the 



County June the 8th 1789 Sir — Agreable to an order of Coun- 
cil 29th of Decemr 1788 I have made Every Serch in my 
power and find Nothing worth Making Return of Except that 
in the Blank &c of Blank year a Certain Lieut William Lin 
and others from Orleans Delivered at the Mouth of Weelin 
within this County loooo Weight or thereabout of gunpowder 
for the use of the State of Virginia the same was kept there 
some time and then ordred to the Station of fort pitt by a 
Continental officer Colo w°i Crawford." The powder was is- 
sued both by David Shepherd and Zephaniah Blackford, com- 
missary of stores, as is proven by receipts found in Draper 
MSS, iSS 24-28.— Ed. 

1 James O'Hara was an Irishman who before 1773 entered 
the Indian trade near Fort Pitt. He enlisted in the 9th Vir- 
ginia regiment, being employed as quartermaster. During the 
Whiskey Rebellion he was quartermaster-general of the army, 
and served in a similar capacity under Wayne (i794)- 
O'Hara's business capacity aided in the building up of Pitts- 
burgh, where in 1797 he established the first glass manufactory 
west of the Alleghenies. In 1804 he was director of the Pitts- 



254 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

Shawanese towns on the Scioto where he was in- 
formed that there was a gang of young Indian fel- 
lows ready to go to war, consisting of fifteen Shaw- 
anese, two Wiandots, and one Mingo; Mr. O'Hara 
was also informed that they intended to waylay him 
on his return to Pittsburgh; upon which he happily 
changed his course, and arrived safe at the above 
place with his people and effects.^ Two or three days 
after his arrival an express came to Fort Pitt, with 
an account that the widow Muchmore and her three 
children, were found almost burned to cinders, and 
her late husband killed and scalped near where the 
house stood, opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek on 
the Ohio. The same day another express arrived 
who brought an account of a man being found mur- 
dered near Wheeling; also one Ogden, a Jersey man, 
was found killed and scalped near the mouth of Rac- 
coon Creek. All the above murders were perpetrated 
on or near the Ohio. Two days after the above ex- 
presses, another arrived from Dunkard Greek, near 
the mouth of Cheat River, with an account of three 
men being killed and scalped there, and three others 
missing. Lieut. Mason,"^ at the head of ten militia, 

burgh branch of the Philadelphia bank; and died in 1819 leav- 
ing a large estate, mainly in landed property, part of which is 
still held by his heirs. His daughter married William Crog- 
han Jr., nephew of George Rogers Clark. — Ed. 

* See Heckewelder's report of this incident in his Narrative, 
PP- 155, 156. The Wyandot attempted to waylay O'Hara near 
the Delaware towns, but by the interposition of the Christian 
Indians, and the Moravian missionary, he escaped. — Ed. 

■ Samuel Mason (he spells the name Meason) commanded 
a company at Fort Henry during its first siege (Sept. i, 1777), 
and was severely wounded in a sally against ambushed In- 
dians. In 1778 he commanded the same fort. He appears to 



PROTECTING THE FRONTIERS 255 

gallantly followed the murderers of the Muchmore 
family, and after a pursuit of twenty-five miles, came 
up with the savages, who fought for some time and 
then gave way. Mr. Mason and his little party fol- 
lowed them some miles further, but having no pro- 
visions, and being in danger of falling into an am- 
buscade, returned to the field of battle, where they 
found one dead Indian, whom they scalped, some 
horses and other booty which the savages had taken 
from some white people. Mr. Mason thinks that they 
either killed or desperately wounded more of the In- 
dians, as much blood was seen on the ground. This 
brave young man was born near Winchester in Vir- 
ginia, and will no doubt meet a reward adequate to 
his merit. Another party followed the gang who 
committed the murder near Cheat, and it is hoped 
can give a good account of them. It was the general 
opinion, that the Indians had divided themselves 
into three parties, and committed the murders much 
about the same time. 

The inhabitants of the above mentioned places were 
in the utmost consternation ; some frying one way and 
some another, and a few set about building forts; 

have lived first on Buffalo Creek, afterwards on Wheeling, a 
mile or so above the town, where he kept an ordinary. At 
the close of the Revolution he removed southward, settling 
about 1790 at Red Banks, now Henderson, Tenn., and later on 
the Mississippi. Here he became leader of a band of highway 
robbers, and committed many crimes between 1795 and 1803. 
At one time he was captured by the Spanish authorities, but 
succeeded in escaping. In the latter year, a reward of $500 
was offered by the governor of Mississippi for his head. 
Thereupon he was shot and beheaded by two of his own gang 
of desperados. These men were afterwards apprehended and 
hung. — Ed. 



256 REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO 

but it is hoped that the arrival of Brigadier General 
Hand will dissipate all their fears, and add life and 
vigour to their undertakings.* As Brigadier Hand 
is universally loved on the Ohio,^ the people will no 
doubt flock to his standard and cheerfully go forth 
to chastise the savage foe. 



*Upon the receipt of accounts of the hostile intent of the 
Western Indians and of the exposed condition of the frontiers, 
Congress resolved that an experienced officer should be sent 
to Pittsburgh to take command, embody the miHtia, and plan 
the defense. On April 9, 1777, the board of war reported in 
favor of Edward Hand, recently appointed brigadier-general. 
Congress voted a thousand rifles and five tons of lead to be 
sent to Fort Pitt. Hand was (April 10) ordered to this gar- 
rison, and the next day given discretionary power, being voted 
$4000 for works or supplies, while three tons of gunpowder 
were arranged for. — Journals of Congress, new ed., vii, pp. 
247, 252, 256, 270. Hand arrived at Fort Pitt, June i. — Ed. 

5 Edward Hand, M. D., was born in Clyduff, County Lein- 
ster, Ireland, Dec. 31, 1744. Educated as a physician, he was 
in 1767 appointed surgeon's mate of the i8th Royal Irish in- 
fantry, and sailing from Cork reached America in July of the 
same year. The regiment was at once ordered to Fort Pitt, 
where Hand made himself popular with all classes. In 1772 
he purchased an ensign's commission; but when his regiment 
was ordered East in 1774, he resigned and received his dis- 
charge, settling in Lancaster, Pa., where in 1775 he married 
Catharine Ewing. On the outbreak of the Revolution he at 
once enlisted, being appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 1st 
battalion of Pennsylvania riflemen. Joining Washington be- 
fore Boston, he was with the continental army at Long Island, 
and in the Jersey campaign. In April, 1777, he was appointed 
brigadier-general and sent to the West as commander-in-chief. 
Recalled at his own request early in 1778, he served through- 
out the war, being adjutant-general at the siege of Yorktown. 
After peace was declared, he retired to his estate near Lancas- 
ter and practiced medicine. He was a member of the old 
Congress in 1784-85 and of the Pennsylvania constitutional 
convention of 1790, and served several terms in the state leg- 
islature. In 1798 he was chosen one of the major-generalf 
of the army in anticipation of a war with France. General 
Hand was of a genial disposition, popular with his superiors 



PROTECTING THE FRONTIERS 257 

[Col. Zackwell Morgan to Capt. William Harrod. 4NNS4— 
A. L. S.] 

May 27 1777 
Dear Cap^. — I was favoured with your Letter of 
the 22 of this instant by Mr M'Laughlin am glad you 
have Provaled on your men to Continue Longer as 
we are Like to have trubelsum times I shall set out 
to morrow for Fort Pitt to meet the General when I 
shall be Better abel to Informe you of what is to be 
dun and in what Manner we are to act I expect 
there will be several Companies to be rased and hope 
you will Still Continue I Pay but Littel Regard to 
Complantes untill Both Stor[i]es is heard I have 
not any nues worth menti[o]ning At this time to 
you. 

I am Sir your Rail frind and Hum^. Sar* 

Zack^^ Morgan 

To Capt William Harrod 

and subordinates in the army; his work on the frontier was 
hampered by causes beyond his control. He died at his home, 
"Rockford," Sept. 3, 1802. — Ed. 



17 



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INDEX 



Albany (N. Y.), 160. 

Albemarle County (Va.), 25, 153. 

Alexander, Capt. — , 149. 

Alexander, Joseph, 225. 

Alexandria (Va.), 138-140, 142. 

Algonquian stock, 199. 

Allanawisslca, Shawnee chief, 26, 
103, 126. 

Allen, Ethan, 129. 

Almon, J., Remembrancer, 55, 92. 

Alvord, C. W., discovers docu- 
ments, 22S; Cahokia Records, 
143, 227. 

Amherst, Gen. Jeffrey, 135. 

Amwell Township (Pa.), 207. 

Anderson, Capt. John, 194, 195. 

Anderson, William, 231. 

Anderson County (Ky.), 227. 

Andrews, James, 149. 

"Angelica," British vessel, 150. 

Anipassicowa, Shawnee, 115. 

Arbuckle, Capt. Matthew, 194, 198, 
240; commandant, 175, 176, 178, 
182, 193, 194, 197, 198, 204, 241; 
expedition, 182; letters, 185-187, 
211, 212; sketch, 158. 

Arbuckle, Mrs. Matthew, 212. 

Arkansas Post. See Fort Arkan- 
sas. 

Armstrong, Capt. — , 168, 170. 

Armstrong, Col. John, 200. 

Armstrong, Paul, 225. 

Arnold, Benedict, expedition, 137. 

Arnot, — , 250. 

Aughunta, Wyandot, 52. 



Augusta Academy, 10. 

Augusta County (Va.), 140, 153, 

175, 183, 221, 235. 
Austergass, James, 228. 
Avon (N. Y.), 161. 
Avone. See Canawaugus. 



Baby, Duperon, 44, 54, 62. 

Baby, James, 44. 

Baltimore County (Md.), 218. 

Battles: Big Island, 170. Blue 
Licks, 154, 175. Chemung, 161. 
Concord, 10-15. Fallen Tim- 
bers, 75. Germantown, 139. 
Lake Erie, 151. Lake George, 
159. Lexington, 10-15. Oris- 
kany, 152, 159-161. Point Pleas- 
ant, 240. Yorktown, 256. 

Bausman, Joseph H., History of 
Beaver County, Pa., 158, 217, 
220, 238, 247, 250. 

Bavard, James, 63. 

Bawbee, — , educated in Virginia, 
126. 

Bayard, Col. Stephen, 201. 

Baynton, Wharton & Co., 31. 

Beard, Lieut. — , 192. 

Beaver, Delaware chief, 46. 

Bedford County (Pa.), 74, 200. 

Bedford County (Va.), 7, 173, 174. 

Belmont, Virginia estate, 153. 

Belvidere, Virginia estate, 153. 

Berkeley County (Va.), 196, 230. 

Bethlehem (Pa.), 45, 202, 203. 



26o 



INDEX 



Big Appletree, Mingo chief, 48. 

Big Bone Lick (Ky.), 189. 

Big Knife, Indian appellation for 

whites, 15, 77. 
Big Lick (Va.), 169. 
Blackfish, Shawnee chief, 242. 
Blackford, Zephaniah, 224, 254. 
Blacksburg (Va.), 11. 
Blacksnake, Seneca chief, 1.59-167; 

portrait, 160. 
Black Wolf, Mingo chief, 102. 
Blair, Archibald, 238. 239. 
Blair, Rev. James, 238. 
Bland, Col. Richard, 23, 35, 215. 
Bluejacket, Shawnee chief. 41. 44. 
Blue Licks, lower, 206. See also 

Battles. 
Boiling Springs (Ky.), 227. 
Bolton, David, 127, 132, 149. 
Bondy, Joseph Douaire de, 148. 
Boone, Daniel, 16, 177, 186, 187; 

cuts road, 2, 9; captured, 4, 144. 
Boone. Jemima, 187, 189. 205. 
Boonesborough (Ky.), 2, 102, 187, 

205, 227, 242. 
Botetourt County (Va.), 8, 17, 

155-157, 168, 169, 174, 175, 177, 

183, 184, 197. 
Bowman, George, 170. 
Bowman, Capt. John, 154. 170. 
Bowyer, Henry, 17. 
Boyd, John. 225. 

Braddock, Gen. Edward, expedi- 
tion, 22, 36, 136, 207; battlefield, 

191. 
Bradstreet, Col. John, 133. 134, 

150. 151. 
Brady, Samuel, 201. 202, 230. 
Brady's Bend, 160. 
Braxton, Carter, 23, 146. 
Brenton (Brinton). James, 231. 
Bridgeport (O.), 217. 
Brinton. See Brenton. 
Brodhead, Daniel, 46, 196, 201, 234, 

235. 
Brothertown Indians, 62. 
Brown, Rev. John, 10-12. 



Brown, Capt. Samuel, 179, 181, 

182. 
Brown, Col. Thomas, 233. 
Brownsville (Pa.), 233. 
Bryant's Station (Ky.), 154. 
Buffalo Historical Society, 161. 
Bullitt County (Ky.). 180. 
Burgoyne, Gen. John. 96, 153. 
Burr, Aaron, 32. 
Butler, Col. John, 152. 172. 
Butler, Richard, 55, 63, 64, 158; 

sketch, 151. 
Butler, William, 151. 
Butterfield, C. W., Wmhington- 

C raw ford Letters, 2.50. 
Byrnside, Capt. — , 240. 



Cabell, William, 23. 

Caldwell, James, 224. 

Caldwell, Col. John, 67, 69, 135. 

Caldwell, Mary, 246. 

Caldwell, Col. William, 44. 

Callaway. Elizabeth, 187, 189, 205. 

Callaway, Frances, 187, 189, 205. 

Callaway, Col. James, 173. 

Callaway, Col. Richard, 186. 

Callaway. William, 173. 

Cameron. Allen, 138. 

Campbell, Col. Arthur, 102. 

Campbell. Capt. Donald, 201. 

Campbell, Col. John. 230-233. 

Campbell. Robert. 2.30, 231. 237, 
245. 

Campeau, Jacques, 148. 

Campeau. Jean B., 148. 

Campeau family, 148. 

Camp Union (Fort Charles, 
Levels, Savannah), 178. 181, 184, 
192, 197. 198, 204, 209. 

Canajoharie (N. Y.). raid, 159- 
161. 

Canawaugus (Avone), Indian vil- 
lage, 160-162, 167. 

Canon, Col. John, 221-223, 233. 

Canonsburg (Pa.), 221. 



INDEX 



261 



Captain Jacobs, Delaware chief, 

200. 
Captain Pipe, Delaware chief, 80, 

88, 126, 127. 
Carleton, Gen. Guy, 23, 24, 127-135, 

141; sketch, 96, 97. 
Carlisle (Pa.), 191, 200. 
Carnahan, James, 200. 
Carnahan, Col. John, 200. 
Carrington, Paul, 23, 146. 
Castle Hill (Va.), 25. 
Catfish, Delaware chief, 61, 
Cattaraugus County (N. Y.), 159. 
Caughnawaga (N. Y.), 171, 172. 
Caughuawaga (Que.), 65. 
Caughnawaga (Cochawawagas) 

Indians, 81, 82, 199, 219. 
Celoron. Pierre Joseph, 26, 158. 
Champaign County (O.), 240. 
Chapoton, Jean Baptiste, 148. 
Charleston (W. Va.), 184. 
Chau Chau Chau sadea. See Fly- 
ing Crow. 
Chautauqua portage. 1.58. 
Chenusaw, Shawnee hostage, 34, 

39, 42, 57-60. 
Cherokee Indians, sell lands, 1-4, 

53; hostile, 15, 156, 170, 173, 175, 

176, 186. 187; robberies, 15, 104; 

towns, 179. 
Cherry Valley (N. Y.), raid, 159, 

160. 
Chew, Colby, 246. 
Chew, Maj. James, 246. 
Chew, Thomas, 246. 
Chillicothe (O.), 57. 
Chiningue. See Logstown. 
Chippewa (Saulteur) Indians, 217; 

at Fort Pitt, 201; neutral, 70, 

71; hostile, 190, 199; captive, 

203; sketch, 131. 
Chiswell lead mines, 155, 173. 
Christian, Col. William, 16; letters 

to. 7, 8. 17; militia colonel, 8, 

21; sketch, 5. 
Cincinnati (O.), 202, 231. 



Circleville (O.), 57. 

Clark, George Rogers, expedi- 
tions, 15, 1.30, 136, 141, 144, 145, 
149, 154, 179, 227, 228, 232, 235; 
delegate, 206; nephew, 254; 
tlia/ry, 227. 

Clark's Grant (Ind.), 232. 

Claus, Capt. Daniel, 1.31. 

Cleveland (O.j, 68. 

Clover Lick (Va.), 205. 

Cold Spring (N. Y.), 159. 

Connolly, Maj. John, 18-20, 40, 43, 
152 ; letter, 71-73 ; letter to, 16 
treats with Indians, .3.5-.38, 68 
buys land. 231; plot, 1.36-142 
Na/rrative, 19, 139. 

Continental Congress, Journals of, 
145, 217, 247, 249, 256. 

Conococheague (Pa.), 228. 

Conwell, Yates, 224. 

Cook, John, letter, 205, 206. 

Cooper, James, 186, 189. 

Corn, Ebenezer, 227. 

Cornplanter (.lohn O'Bail), Seneca 
chief, 39, 160-165; portrait, 162. 

Cornstalk, Shawnee chief, 26; let- 
ter for, 7; at Fort Blair, 14, 15, 
103, 104; message to, 70, 74; at 
Fort Pitt, .36, 41, 71, 76 ; speeches, 
42, 74, 75. 92, 93, 100-105, 111, 
113-116; with Wilson, 202; 
treats with English, 187 ; sketch. 
7. 

Coronyatta, Wyandot, 52. 

Coshocton (Goshachgunk), 45, 46, 
124, 196. 

Cox, Maj. Gabriel, 233. 

Cox's Station, 251. 

Coyashota. See Guyashusta. 

Cracroft, Capt. Charles, 235. 

Crawford, Col. William, surveys, 
5, 153; in Dunmore's War, 56; 
continental officer, 216, 234, 253; 
letter, 249-251; Sandusky expe- 
dition, 91, 234; death, 46, 80; 
sketch, 250. 



2^2 



INDEX 



Creek Indians, 45. 

Creeks: Beaver, 86. Big Beaver, 
43. Big Sandy, 163. Buffalo, 
162, 255. Catfish, 230. Chartier, 
22. Corcosan (Caueussing), 48. 
Cross (W. Va.), 217, 218. Dun- 
kard, 212, 251, 254. Elk (W. 
Va.), 184. Fish (vv^. Va.), 207, 
208, 212, 213; garrison, 221; 
scouting, 253; raid, 217. Fish- 
ing (W. Va.), 207, 208, 212, 220. 
French (Pa.), 158, 162, 163. 
Grave (W. Va.), 228, 234— see 
also Fort Grave Creek. Ham- 
mond (Ky.), 227. Indian 
(Va.), 178, 181. Killbuck (O.), 
48. Loramie (O.), 15, 144. 
Meadow (Va.), 182. Middle Is- 
land (W. Va.), 212, 213. 
Muddy (Va.), 178, 181, 182, 
193— see also Fort Muddy. 
Paint (Ky.), 14. Paint (Va.), 
183. Pine (Pa.), 27. Raccoon 
(Va.), 231, 250, 254. Robinson 
(Pa.), 231. Sandy (W. Va.), 6. 
13, 14. Short (W. Va.), 234. 
Ten Mile (W. Va.), 231. Wal- 
honding — see White Woman's. 
Walkers (Va,), 179. Wheeling 
(W. Va.), 196, 232, 235, 242, 255— 
see also Fort Henry, Wheeling. 
White Woman's (O.), 48. Wolf 
(Va.), 177. Yellow (O.), 254. 

Cresap, Capt. Michael, 232, 233. 

Cr6vecoeur, Hector St. John de, 
map. frontispiece, 48, 63. 

Crockett, Capt. Walter, 168, 169. 

Croghan, George, 15, 26, 28, 171. 

Croghan, William, 254. 

Crooke, Capt. Thomas, 235. 

Crumrine, Boyd. Washington 
County, Pa., 223, 230. 

Cumberland (Pa.), 151. 

Cumberland County (Pa.), 144, 
171, 191, 200. 

Cumberland Gap (Ky.), 2. 



Cumberland .settlement (Tenn.), 

3. 
Custaloga, Delaware chief, 80. 
Cuttena (Cuttemwha), Shawnee 

hostage, 89, 42, 43, 57-59. 
Cuyahoga (Kacayuga), 62. See 

also Cuyahoga River. 



Dalzell, Capt. James, 218. 

Dandridge, Dorothea, 7. 

Danville (Ky.), 154. 

Darlington, W. P., G-isVs Journals, 
48. 

Dartmouth, Lord, letter to, 65. 

Davidson, George, 182. 

Davis, James, 225. 

Dean, Capt. — , 192. 

De Jean, Philip, 148, 149. 

Delaware (O.), 56. 

Delaware Indians, 19, 28, 29, 39, 
45, 52, 54, 62, 66, 116, 129, 130, 
158, 171, 174; lands, 40, 62, 86, 
87 ; towns, 37, 43, 45, 46, 125, 127, 
199, 200, 244; clans, 88; lan- 
guage, 64; missions, 45, 202 — see 
also Moravians; hostile, 61, 
124; pacific, 1.56, 188; warn set- 
tlements, 44, 245, 250; consulted, 
237; treat with Connolly, 35, 37; 
at treaty of 1775, 76, 80, 82, 86, 
92, 94, 108, 113, 114, 120-122; 
speech, 46, 47; speech to. 46, 47, 
98; message to, 80, 152, 202; at 
treaty of 1776. 217, 219 ; ask pro- 
tection, 203, 244. 

De Peyster, Arent Schuyler, 128. 
130. 

Desnoyers, Pierre, 131. 

Desnoyers family, 131. 

Detroit, 44, 68, 74, 101, 128, 130. 
137, 141, 150, 199, 202, 203, 218; 
founded, 131; in Pontiac's War, 
134, 201, 203; Indians at, 36, 
155, 187; commandant, 136, 
158; garrison, 147, 148. 218; 



INDEX 



263 



militia, 132, 148, 149; expe- 
dition against, 145, 147, 172, 189 ; 
merchants, 149, 150; captive at, 
231; taken by English, 134; 
Americans, 95. See also Fort 
Detroit. 

Devil's Hole Massacre, 159, 160. 

Dickenson College (Pa.), 191. 

Digges, Dudley, ^, 146. 

Dinwiddie, Gov. Robert, 4, 66. 

Dobie, — , 134. 

Doctor, Mohawk Indian, 67. 

Dodge, John, 55, 92, 143. 

Donelson, Col. John, 3. 

Donelson, Rachel, 31 

Donnally, Andrew, 183, 184; let- 
ters, 209, 210. 

Dorchester, Lord. See Carleton. 

Dragging Canoe, Cherokee In- 
dian, 2. 

Draper, Lyman C, 2, 25; visits 
Blacksnake, 159; Life of Boone, 
187. 

Draper's Meadows (Va.), 11. 

Drouillard, George, 128. 

Drouillard, Pierre, 128. 

Duncan, David, 61. 

Dunmore, Earl of, governor of 
Virginia, 1, 17, 19-21, 34, 36-40, 
56, 59, 74, 98, 99, 106, 116, 118, 
119, 121 ; disputes with Virginia, 
11, 41, 57; orders forts evacu- 
ated, 13; messages to Indians, 
7, 71-74; Connolly with, 137-140, 
142; War of 1774, 15, 28, 39^1. 
49, 61, 81, 93, 124, 143, 147, 177, 
179, 182, 204; sketch, 1. 

"Dunmore," British vessel, 149. 



East Florida, governor, 138. 
Economy (Pa.), 27. 
Elliot, Matthew, 74. 
Enoch, Capt. Enoch, 207. 
Enoch, Henry, 207, 235. 
Eppes, Francis, 22. 
Brie (Pa.), 151, 158, 162. 



Evans, Capt. Jack, 234. 
Evans, Maj. John, 234. 
Ewing, Catharine, 256. 



Falls of Ohio, 46, 226, 227, 231, 
232. See also Louisville. 

Fauquier County (Va.), 154. 

Fayette County (Ky.), 154. 

Fayette County (Pa.), 207, 230, 
232, 234. 

Ferguson (Farquharson), — ,134. 

Field, Ezekiel, 51, 98. 

Filson Club, PuhUoations, 2. 

Fiucastle County (Va.), 5, 8, 16, 
21, 23, 167-169, 172, 173. 

Finley, Dr. Samuel, 12. 

Fleming, Mrs. Anne, 17. 

Fleming, Col. William, county 
lieutenant, 184, 197, 20C; letters, 
168, 169, 174r-176, 179, 180, 184, 
192, 193, 209, 210; letters to, 12- 
17, 156, 157, 167-169, 177, 178, 
181-183, 185-187, 193, 196-199, 204, 
205, 209, 214-216, 239-241 ; sketch, 
12. 

Flood, Michael, 225. 

Floyd, Capt. John, 5, 6, 153, 154. 

Flying Crow (Chau chau chau sa- 
dea), Seneca chief, 90, 91, 99, 
107, 108. 

Fonda (N. Y.), 171. 

Forbes. Gen. John, expedition 
(1758), 145, 171, 191, 230. 

Force, Peter, American Archives, 
8, 13, 18, 19, 21, 65, 67, 90, 95, 
126, 136, 137, 139, 143-145, 151, 
158, 170, 171. 186, 216. 

Foreman, Capt. William, 91, 145. 

Forts: Arbuckle's, 181. Arkan- 
sas, 226. Armstrong, 201. Beech 
Bottom, 243, 244. Blair, loca- 
tion, 7; commandant, 7, 12, 103, 
106, 111, 112; provisioned, 5, 6; 
garrison, 4, 7; evacuated, 13-17; 
burned, 93, 111, 117, 185— see 
also Fort Randolph, Point 



264 



INDEX 



Forts^Continued. 

Pleasant. Charles — see Camp 
Union. Chartres (111.), 137, 141. 
Clark, 141. Crown Point, 54. 
Culbertson's, 180. Detroit, 54, 
55, 62, 97, 126, 137, 150, 151— 
see also Detroit. Dillow, 231. 
Donnally, 182, 184, 192, 193. 
Dunmore, 6, 13, 142 — see also 
Port Pitt. Duquesne, 27, 163. 
Enoch, 207. Erie, 150, 151. Fin- 
castle, 13, 138, 142— see also 
Port Henry, Wheeling. Frank- 
lin, 163. Preelands, 160. Pront- 
enac, 134. Gage, 137, 141. Grave 
Creek, 195, 207, 208, 210, 213. 214, 
220-225, 235, 242-245, 252, 253. 
Henry, 145, Iffe, 307, 234, 254— 
see also Wheeling. Laurens, 41. 
Le Boeuf, 158. Machault, 162. 
Mcintosh, 231. Muddy Creek, 
197, 198. Niagara, 24, 131, 135, 
162; commandant. 152; captured, 

151, 159; Indians at, 65, 67-70, 
171, 172; reinforced, 218; raids 
from, 158, 245. Oswegatchie, 
131, 132. Oswego, 134. Ouiat- 
anon, 158. Pitt, 19, 20, 64, 135, 
136, 139, 144, 151. 158, 159, 226, 
241, 254; garrison disbanded, 
20. 66; American garrison, 21, 
112. 125, 145. 230, 231; rein- 
forced, 166, 167. 256; contractor. 
61; commissary, 231, 245; trade 
at, 151. 253; endangered, 138, 
196. 200. 219. 249; Indian agent. 

152, 1,58; private claims. 143; 
treaty called for. 50. 53, 55, 56. 
59, 66-68. 78. 79 ; Wood at, 35. 42. 
43, 65; stores. 253. 258; council 
of war, 249-151 ; conference. 159- 
167. 171. 200. 201: Indian prison- 
ers, 49 ; news from, 189. 205, 206. 
210— see also Pittsburgh, and 
Treaties. Presqu'Isle, 151. 158, 
162. Prickett, 2.35. Randolph, 
attacked, 91, 197; endangered. 



219; reinforced, 204, 205, 209, 
214, 230, 231, 239-241; news 
from, 185, 211, 212, 241; depre- 
dations near, 26, 210, 213, 
217; sketch, 185— see also 
Point Pleasant. Sandusky, 218. 
Schuyler, 159. Shepherd, 145. 
Statler, 235. Stephenson, 218. 
Ticonderoga, 54, 215. Vanbib- 
ber, 192. Van Metre, 234. Ven- 
ango, 163. Wells, 218. 

Frankfort (Ky.), 154. 

Franklin, Benjamin, 23. 

Franklin (Pa.), 162, 163. 

Franklin Township (Pa.), 207. 

Frazer, John, 162. 

Frederick (Md.), 136, 139, 235. 

Frederick County (Va.), 20, 22, 
43, 170. 



Gaddis, Col. Thomas, 234. 

Gage, Gen. Thomas, 135-137, 139, 
140. 

"Gage," British vessel, 127, 149. 

Galloway, John, 194, 198. 

Gambel. Thomas, 135, 136. 

Gates, Gen. Horatio, 143. 

Geneva (N. Y.), 160. 

George III (England), proclama- 
tion of 1763, 4. 5. 

Georgetown vMd.), 136. 

Gibson, Capt. George, 73, 144, 
145, 223. 226. 2.33; sketch. 144. 

Gibson. Col. John. 26. 126. 144. 152; 
at Williamsburgh. 155, 156; let- 
ters to, 71-7.3. 137; trading post, 
27, 65. 

Gilmore, — , 214. 

Girty, Simon, interpreter, 28. 43, 
67; escapes to British, 74; kills 
Rogers, 232; sketch, 28. 

Gist, Christopher. 15. 

Givens. Anne, 183. 

Givens, Capt. George, 192, 193, 
197, 198, 209. 

Givens family, 193. 



INDEX 



265 



Gladwin, Maj. Henry, 208. 
Glen, Joseph, 225. 
Gnadenhutten (O.), 45, 63, 203. 
Goshen (O.), 88, 45. 
Grant, Capt. Alexander, 132. 
Granville County (N. C), 2. 
Great Lakes, shipping, 127, 132, 

149, 150. 
Green, Isaac, 210, 213. 
Green Bay (Wis.), 199. 
Greenbrier (Va.), 113, 197, 2.39; 

settlements, 100, 192. 193, 198; 

alarmed, 156, 177-181, 204. 
Greenbrier County (Va.), 183. 
Greenbrier levels. See Camp 

Union. 
Greene County (Pa.). 235. 
Greenville (O.), 202. 
Gregory, Capt. Daniel, 183. 
Grosse Pointe (Mich.), 132. 
Guyashusta (Coyashota, Kiasola, 

Kyashota), Seneca Indian, 31, 

126; speech, 108, 110, 111, 118- 

120, 122, 123 ; visits Niagara, 151, 

152, 171. 172. 
Guy Park (N. Y.), estate, 65. 



Hasrerstown (Md.), 136. 

Haldimand, Sir Frederick, 96, 128, 
136, 148. 

Half King, Wyandot chief, 91, 92, 
203. 

Hamilton, Capt. Andrew, 193, 205. 
206. 

Hamilton, Henry, Detroit com- 
mandant. 147, 149; letter, 127- 
135; captured, 128, 130, 149; 
council with Indians, 202; 
sketch, 135; portrait, 128. 

Hamilton, S. M., Letters to Wash- 
ington, 19. 

Hammond, Nathan. 226, 227. 

Hampshire County (Va.), 207, 
232. 

Hancock, John, letter to, 249, 251. 



Hand, Gen. Edward, 193, 200, 231, 
256, 257. 

Hands Meadows, 169. 

Hanley, Capt. — , 192. 

Hannastown (Pa.), 18, 

Hanover County (Va.), 7. 

Hardmau, Shawnee chief, '57-61, 
202. 

Hargess, Capt. — , 207. 

Harkness, John, 225. 

Harmar, Josiah, 41. 

Harper's Ferry (Md.), 235. 

Harris, James, 225. 

Harris, Mary, 48. 

Harris, Samuel, 224. 

Harris, Stephen, 225. 

Harrison, Col. Benjamin, 23, 209. 

Harrod, Capt. James, 43. 

Harrod, Capt. William, commis- 
sion, 145, 146; returns from 
Kentucky, 198; letters to, 206, 
207, 218-221, 245, 246, 252, 253, 
257; station, 235; petitions to, 
224, 225; orders, 221-223. 226- 
230. 

Harrodsburgh (Ky.), 4.3, 170, 206, 
227, 228, 242. 

Harvie. John, 153, 191. 

Hastings, Marquis of. See Raw- 
don. 

Hay. Jehu, 130, 131, 133, 149. 

Hazard, Samuel, Register of Penn- 
sylvania, 191, 246. 

Heart. Capt. Jonathan, 163. 

Heckewelder, John. Narrative, 
87, 95, 126, 202; sketch, 202. 

Henderson, .Tames, 18.3. 

Henderson, John. 183. 

Henderson, Col. Richard, 1-4, 16. 

Henderson (Tenn.), 255. 

Hendrick, Mohawk chief, 131. 

Henry, Patrick, 7, 11, 21, 23; gov- 
ernor of Virginia, 146, 210; let- 
ters, 223, 232. 233, 2.36, 238, 239, 
244. 245, 247-249. 252; orders, 
226; letters to. 212-214. 242, 243; 
portrait, 232, 



266 



INDEX 



Herbert, Capt. — , 183. 
Heron, James, 55. 
Hickman, Molly, 29. 
Hildreth, Samuel P., Pioneer His- 
tory, 32, 217, 246, 247, 251. 
Hite, Joist, 170. 
Hite family, 196. 
Holliday's Cove, 251. 
Hord, Capt. John, 235. 
Howard, Capt. John, 134. 
Howe, Gen. William, 139, 215. 
Howell, Abner, 229. 
Huggins, William, 179, 181. 
Huron Indians. See Wyandot. 



Illinois country. 31, 143, 149; gar- 
rison, 137, 141. 

Illinois County (Va.), 228. 

Illinois Historical Collections, 227. 

Indiana Company, 31. 

Ingles, Col. William, 14, 17. 

Iroquois Indians, 36; sell lands, 
53, 61, 65; disposition, 70, 245; 
headship, 123; missions, 45, 
131; agent, 152; language, 131; 
neutrality, 162-167, 172; at 
treaty of 1775, 80, 82, 85, 87, 89- 
92, 99, 107, 108, 113-119, 121, 122; 
of 1776, 216 ; speech to, 109, 121, 
124. See also Mingo and Seneca. 

Islands: Big, 175. Montour's 
(Neville's), 23, 28, 153. 



Jackson, Andrew, 3. 

Jacobs, John J., Michael Cresap, 

25. 
January. Mrs. Ezekiel, 176. 
Jefferson, Thomas, 23, 143, 153, 

215. 
Jefferson College, 221. 
Jesuit missionaries, 141, 147. 
Jogues, Isaac, Jesuit missionary, 

171, 172. 
Johnson, Guy, 65, 67, 246. 
Johnson, Sir John, 152. 



Johnson, Sir William, 65, 74, 80, 
91, 99, 124, 131, 152, 159, 171. 

Jonnston, J. Stoddard, First Ex- 
plorations of Kentucky, 2. 

Johnston, William, 182. 

Jones, Rev. David, Visits, 57. 

Jones, Gabriel, 153. 

Jones, John Gabriel, 206. 

Jones, Joseph, 146. 

Jones, Morgan, 224. 



Kalalamint, Delaware chief, 88. 

Kanawha County (W. Va.), 184. 

Karr, Matthew, 224. 

Kataawa, Shawnee, 103. 

Kaskaskia (111.), 137, 141, 143, 
145, 154, 227, 229; sketch, 227, 
228. 

Kelley, Thady, 230, 231, 233. 

Kelly's settlement, 241. 

Kenightie, Iroquois, 126. 

Kenton, Simon, 48, 128. 

Kents, — , 169. 

Kentucky, 128, 213; lands pur- 
chased, 1-4; explored, 2, 117, 
246 ; road to, 2, 8 ; early settlers, 
2, 7, 9, 61, 111, 112, 226 ; surveys, 
4, 5; boundary, 6; removal to, 
10, 16; raids, 9, 15. 16. 56, 104, 
106, 175, 176, 179. 186, 187, 199, 
206, 242; forts, 53; alarm, 153, 
154; abandoned, 198, 205. 206; 
militia. 170; legislature, 2, 232. 

Kentucky County (Va.), 8, 154. 

Kerr, Matthew, 225. 

Kiasola. See Guyashusta. 

Kickapoo Indians, 3, 158. 

Kightor. Iroquois, 126. 

Killbuck, Delaware chief. 38. 46, 
124; sketch, 38. 

King George County (Va.), 146. 

Kiscapoo (Kiskapookee, Kispa- 
po), town, 63, 201. 

Kishanosity. See Hardman. 

Kisquaquawha, Shawnee chief, 
102, 103. 



INDEX 



267 



Kittanniug, 200, 201, 245, 251. 
Knox, George, 225. 
Knox, Thomas, 225. 



Labadie, Angeline, 128. 
La Demoiselle, Miami chief, 15. 
I^akes: Erie, 36, 53, 86, 150, 162. 
Ontario, 149. Superior, 131. 
See also Great Lakes. 
Langlade, Charles, 15, 150. 
Lancaster (Pa.), 171, 191, 256. 
Lancaster County (Pa.), 144. 
Lancaster County (Va.), 12. 
La Presentation. See Fort Oswe- 

gatchie. 
La Richardie, P&re de, 147. 
Lead mines, Chiswell, 155, 173. 
Lee, Gen. Charles, 145. 
Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 23. 
Lee, Hancock, 153, 154. 
Lee, Richard Henry, 23. 
Lee, Robert E., 10. 
Lee, Thomas Ludwell, 146. 
Lee, Willis, 153, 154. 
Lee's Station (Ky.). 175, 188. 
Leestown (Ky.), laid out, 154. 
Lernoult. Capt. Richard B., 128, 

130, 147. 
Lewis, Andrew, 39; in Dunmore's 
War, 182, 204; Indian com- 
missioner, 20, 30, 34, 42, 81, 82, 
90, 100, 105, 112, 127; speech, 75, 
76, 102. 
Lewis, Mrs. Andrew, 183. 
Lewis. Thomas, 21, 24. 
Lewis and Clark expedition, 128. 
Lewisburg (Va.), 183, 184. 
Lexington (Ky.), 154, 210, 227. 
Lexington (Va.>, 10. 
Liberty Hall. See Augusta Acad- 
emy. 
Limestone (Ky.), 206. 
Lincoln, Mrs. Abraham, 154. 
Lincoln County (Ky.), 170. 
Lindsay, Joseph, 227. 
Linn, Capt. William, expedition, 



226-229, 248; arrives with 
powder, 252, 253; sketch, 144, 
145. 
Little Carpenter, Cherokee In- 
dian, 2. 
Livingston County (N. Y.), 161. 
Lochry, Col. Archibald, 200, 235 
Lockhart, Capt. — , 168, 170. 
Lockhart, Jacob, 182. 
Lockhart, Patrick, 155, 156. 
Logan, Indian chief, 48, 49. 
Logan County (O.), 203. 
Logstown (Pa.), 26, 6.5, 251. 
Lord, Capt. Hugh, 137, 141. 
Lorimier (Laramie, Lorimie), 

Peter, 144. 
Loudoun County (Va.), 234. 
Louisa County (Va.), 12. 
Louisburg, siege, 134, 135. 
Louisville (Ky.), 227, 232; set- 
tled, 145. See also Falls of 
Ohio. 
Loup Indians. See Mahican. 
Lynch, Charles, 174. 



Macaster, — , 252. 
McBeath, George, 150. 
McBride, Roger, 250. 
McClain, Daniel, 243. 
McClain, John, 225. 
McClain, Joseph, 225. 
McClean, Charles, 2M. 
McCleary, Capt. William, 235. 

McClelland's Station (Ky.), 56, 

206. 
McClenechan (McClanahan), Capt. 
William, 169, 170. 

McClure, Andrew, 230, 231. 

McClure, David, 224, 234. 

McClure family, 231. 

McConnell, Adam Baxter, 175, 176, 
188. 

McConnell, Andrew, 175, 188. 

McConnell, William, 176, 189. 

McConnell, William Barber, 175, 
176, 188. 



268 



INDEX 



McCulloch, Maj. Samuel, 234. 

McDonald, Maj. Angus, expedi- 
tion, 145, 154, 231. 

McDowell, Josiah, 182. 

McFarland, Col. Daniel, 234. 

McFarlane, Andrew, 245. 

Mcintosh, Gen. Laclilan. expedi- 
tion, 231, 234. 

McKee, Alexander, 74, 76, 152. 

McKee, Capt. William. 197; let- 
ters. 204. 205, 214-216. 

McLaughlin. — . 245, 257. 

McMechen, James, 225. 

McMechen, William, 224. 

McNutt, Joseph, 210, 213. 

McQuinney, — , 102. 

McTavish, Simon, 150. 

Mackay, Col. Aeneas, 200, 201. 

Mackinac (Michilimakinac. Missi- 
limalkinak). 130, 134, 135, 150, 
151. 

Madison, John, 25. 

Madison, Capt. Thomas, 169, 240. 

"Magdalen." British ship, 11. 

Mahican (Loup, Mohegan) In- 
dians, 62, 217; town, 48. 

Mahican John, Delaware, 127-129. 

Maiden (Ont.), 75, 128. 

Mangagata, Ottawa. 53. 

Marin, Pierre Joseph, sieur, 151. 

Marion County (W. Va.), 235. 

Martin, Capt. Joseph, 154. 

Maryland. 3, 144; Journal, 250. 
253. 

Mascoutin Indians, 3, 158. 

Mason. George. 23. 146. 

Mason, Samuel. 254. 255. 

Mason County (Ky.). 240. 

Massachusetts, Revolution in, 8, 
11-13. See also Battles, Con- 
cord and Lexington. 

Matthews, Archer, 198, 209, 210. 

Matthews. Elijah. 242. 

Matthews. George. 198. 

Matthews. Sampson, 198. 

May, John, 174, 206. 



Meadville (Pa.), 162. 

Menard, Catharine, 148. 

Mercer, James, 23. 

Mercer County (Ky.), 231. 

Mercer County (Pa.), 163, 231. 

Miami (Tawixatwee, Twigtwee) 
Indians, 3, 15, 56, 58, 115, 158, 
170, 171. 217. 

Michigan Pioneer and Historical 
Collections, 127, 202. 

Milkman, Shawnee chief, 58. 

Milwaukee. Indian site, 199. 

Mingo (Iroquois, Seneca) Indians, 
29, 39, 52, 66; prisoners, 18, 19; 
towns. 37, 48, 56. 217; message 
to, 74, 78, 79; treat with Con- 
nolly, 35, 37; at treaty of 1775, 
76, 80, 82, 85-87, 94; speech to, 
97; pacific. 156, 188; hostile, 15, 
49, 175, 176, 188, 199, 201, 210, 
212, 219, 251, 254; sketch, 15. 
See also Iroquois, Pluggy and 
Seneca. 

Minor, Capt. John, 235. 

Mississippi, governor, 254. 

Mitchell, Edward. 213, 214. 

Moccasin Gap, 2. 

Mohawk Indians, 81, 171, 172. 

Mohegan Indians. See Mahican. 

Monongahela City (Pa.), 228. 

Monongalia County (Va.l. 234, 
235; erected, 223; officers, 230. 
2.34. 235. 238; records, 2.35; sur- 
veyor, 246. 

Montgomery, John, 191. 

Montgomery. Gen. Richard. 132. 

Montgomery County (N. Y.), 171. 

Montgomery County (Va.), 8, 11. 

Montour. Andrew. 28. 

Montour. John, interpreter, 28, 
153, 202. 

Montreal, 24. 129, 132, 134, 137. 

Montressor. Capt. John, 150. 

Moor. John, 214. 

Moorhead, — , captured, 246. 

Moorhead, Capt. Samuel, 201, 246. 



INDEX 



26g 



Moravian Missions, 38, 64, 202; 
towns, 44, 45. See also Dela- 
ware Indians. 

Morgan, Gen. Daniel, 183. 

Morgan, David, 230. 
^Morgan, Evan, 31. 

Morgan, George, 258; at treaty, 
31; investigates charges, 28; In- 
dian agent, 152, 159, 176, 237, 
238, 245; letters, 158, 216, 217, 
252; letters to, 2.38, 247. 248; in- 
formation, 188, 189, 246, 247; 
Indian name, .32; sketch, 31; 
portrait, 30. 

Morgan, .Tames, 230. 

Morgan, Levi, 230. 

Morgan, William, 251. 

Morgan, Zackwell, county lieu- 
tenant. 235 ; letters, 229, 230, 245, 
246, 252, 253, 257; sketch, 230. 

Morgan settlement, 234. 

Morgantown (Va.), 230. 

Morganza (Pa.), estate. 32. 

Morris, — , 198. 

Morris. Lewis, commissioner. 23. 
24, 28, 30, 33, 82, 90; speeches, 
76, 77, 82^84, 89, 93, 94; letter to, 
158; sketch, 33; portrait, 76. 

Morrisania (N. Y.), estate, 33. 

Mount Braddock (Pa.), 232. 

Mount Clemens (Mich.), 203. 

Mountains: Alleghanies, 252. Blue 
Ridge, 11. Flattop, 183. Lau- 
rel Hill, 18. 

Muchmore, Jonathan, 250. 

Muchmore, Shadrach, 250, 254. 

Muchmore family, 254, 255. 

Munsee Indians, 48, 88, 217. 

Munseeka. See Nimwha. 



NashvOle (Tenn.), settled, 3. 

Nelson, Thomas, 23. 

Neville, Capt. John, 22, 112, 113, 
125, 145, 237; letters to, 238, 
247-249, 252 ; message from, 204, 



205; conference with, 171, 172; 

sketch, 22. 
New London (Ct.), 149. 
New Madrid colony, 32. 
New Martinsville (W. Va.), 208. 
New Orleans, 177, 231-233, 235, 

253; expedition, 144, 145, 226- 

229. 
New Philadelphia (O.), 45. 
New Schoenbruun (O.), 45. 
New York Indians, 62; news 

from, 215. 
Newau, Shawnee hostage, 39, 42, 

43, 57-59. 
Newcomer (Netawatwes), Dela- 
ware chief, 38, 46. 
Newcomerstown, 45, 63. 
Newton, J. H., Panhandle of 

West Virginia, 217. 
Niagara, portage, 132, 133, 147. 

See also Fort Niagara. 
Nicholas, Indian, 48. 
Nicholson, Joseph, 176, 202. 
Nicholson, Thomas, 80. 
Nicolas, Wyandot chief, 36, 218. 
Nimwha (Munseeka), Shawnee 

chief, 41; speech, 121-123. 
Ninnis, Ottawa, 53. 
Norfolk (Va.), 139. 
North Carolina, 1, 2, 176, 179. 
Northwest Territory, 228. 
North West Company, 150. 



O'Bail, John. See Oornplanter. 
O'Callaghan, E. B., New York 

Colonial Documents, 65, 246. 
Occam, Samson, 62. 
Oconastota, Cherokee Indian, 2. 
O'Finn, Philip, -25. 
Ogden, — , 250, 254. 
Ogdensburgh (N. Y.), 132. 
Oguhaenjes. See Caldwell, Col. 

John. 
O'Hara, James, 242, 253. 
Ohio Company, 154. 



2/0 



INDEX 



Ohio County (Va.), 196, 253; 
erected, 223; officers, 232-23^, 
236, 238, 239, 242, 244, 245. 

Old Britain. See La Demoiselle. 

Old Callotte, Wyandot, 128, 129. 

Oldtown (Md.), 232. 

Olumpias, Delaware chief, 28. 

Onas, Indian appellation, 77. 

Orange County (Va.), 246. 

Oswego. See Fort Oswego. 

"Ottawa," British vessel, 127. 

Ottawa (Taway) Indians, 71,217; 
towns, 68; treat with British, 
155 ; speech from, 53 ; at treaty 
of 1775, 80, 82, 85, 89, 92-94, 90, 
108, 110, 114, 116, 119 ; speech to, 
98; with Wyandot, 50-52T mes- 
sage, 56, 70, 101, 102 ; interpreter, 
203; Bostile, 156, 190, 199, 210. 

Owasso (Mich.), 201. 

Owen, Capt. David, 207. 

Oxen, George, 17. 



Page, John, 23, 146; letters, 196, 
197, 247, 248. 

Paintsville (Ky.), 14. 

Parkison, Joseph, 228. 

Parr, Stephen, 224. 

Patterson, Robert, 210, 213. 

Patton, Col. James, estate, 12. 

Pauling, Henry, 174, 175. 

Paully, Ensign — , 218. 

Pendergrass, Garret, 43. 

Pendleton, Edmund, 23, 167, 168. 

Penn, William, 77. 

Pennsylvania, governor, 13; of- 
ficers, 18, 22; traders, 41; boun- 
dary, 18, 141; Archives, 19, 238. 
247; Colonial Records j 145; 
Gazette, 210; Magazine of His- 
tory, 19; Packet, 136, 176, 188, 
189. 

Pentecost, Col. Dorsey, 210, 217, 
230; letters, 195, 196. 20" 
212-214, 218-221, 226-229; county 



lieutenant, 200; letter to, 216; 
sketch, 27. 

Perry, David, 210, 213. 

Perry, Oliver H., fleet, 151. 

Pheasant, Delaware, 115. 

Pick (Pict) Indians, branch of 
Shawnee, 14r-16, 56, 58. 

Pickaway County (O.), 63. 

Pickawillany, captured, 15. 

Picquet, Abbe, 131. 

Pigman, Capt. Jesse, 235. 

Piqua (O.), 15. 

Pipe. See Captain Pipe. 

Pittsburgh, 18, 20-23, 20-28, 32, 33, 
41, 45, 46, 74, 127, 129, 158, 175, 
189, 190, 198, 200, 202, 232, 254; 
powder brought to, 145; expedi- 
tion against, 158; town laid out, 
231, 253. See also Fort Pitt. 

Pittsylvania County (Va.), 3. 

Pluggy, Mohawk, 56, 205, 206; 
son, 102, 106. 

Pluggy 's Town, 48, 56, 102, 201; 
expedition, 235-239, 247, 248. 

Pointe de Montreal, 147. 

Point Pleasant (W. Va.), garri- 
son, 4, 158, 176, 193, 194; re-in- 
forced, 197; Indians leave, 198; 
settlers, 177, 184; soldier killed, 
210; message, 205. See also 
Forts Blair and Randolph. 

Pollock, Oliver, 226. 

Pontiac's conspiracy, 27, 36, 38, 
41, 44, 80, 130, 131, 134, 147, 148, 
151, 162, 171, 201, 203, 218. 

Post, Christian Frederick, 27, 29, 
202. 

Potawatomi Indians, 199. 

Potier, Pierre, 147. 

Powell's Valley, 2, 153. 

Prairie du Chien (Wis.), 150. 

Prescott, Gen. Richard, 132, 135. 

Preston, Col. William, 21, 24; 
surveyor, 4, 5; county lieuten- 
ant. 8, 14; iiome, 11; letters, 1- 
6, 8, 9, 156, 157, 172-174; letters 



INDEX 



271 



to, 7, 10-12, 153, 154, 174-176; 

sketch, 1. 
Prlckett, Capt. Jacob, 235. 
Prickett, Josiah, 235. 
Princeton (N. J.), 32. 
Princeton College, president, 200. 
Proctor, Col. John, 200. 
Purcell, Francis, 225. 



Badcaff, Stephen, 206. 

Ramsay, J. G. M., Annals of Ten- 
nessee, 179. 

Randolph, Peyton, 23, 35-38; let- 
ter to, 66, 67; fort named for, 
185; sketch, 66; portrait, 66. 

Rawdon, Lord Francis. 135, 136. 

Ray, William, 242. 

Reaume, Hyacinthe, 148. 

Reaume, Pierre, 148. 

Reaume, Susanne, 44. 

Recollect missionaries, 147, 148. 

Red Banks (Miss.), 255. 

Red Jacket, Seneca chief, 160, 161, 
163; speech. 165, 166; portrait, 
164. 

Redstone (Pa.), 229, 233. 

Rich, Capt. Jacob, 235. 

Richmond (Va.), 66, 143, 153; 
convention at, 8, 13. 

Rinhen, William, 150. 

Rivers: Allegheny, 27, 38, 39, 65, 
160, 162, 163, 200. Arkansas, 248. 
Beaver, 202. Bluestone, 183. 
Cheat, 229, 235, 254. Cherokee 
— see Tennessee. Clinch, 5, 6. 
Cumberland, 1, 3, 144. Cuya- 
hoga, 46, 68, 86, 201, 202. De- 
troit, 62. Floyd's Fork, 180. 
Gauley, 182. Genessee, 161, 167. 
Great Cacapon. 207. Great Ka- 
nawha. 6, 7, 17, 61. 68, 93, 101, 
103. 104, 106, 111, 158, 177, 182- 
184, 242— see also New. Great 
STiami— see Miami. Green (Ky.), 
2. Greenbrier, 182. Hockhock- 
ing, 101, 105, 116, 206, 210, 213, 



217. Holston, 153, 157, 168, 170, 
173, 175. Hudson, 62, 215. Kas- 
:ia, 141. Kentucky, 1-A, 61, 
.J, 101, 102, 154, 175, 188, 227. 
James, 11, 156. Levisa, 14. 
Licking (Ky.), 186, 187, 323. Lit- 
tle Kanawha, 232, 242-244. Ma- 
hican — see Corcosan Creek. 
Maumee, 56, 75. Miami, 15, 60, 

144, 234. Mississippi, 31, 32, 144, 

145, 177, 226-228, 248. Mohawk, 
152, 172. Monongahela, 167, 206, 
212, 228, 233-235, 251. Mus- 
kingum, 46, 87, 101, 199. New, 
169, 179, 180, 241— see also Great 
Kanawha. Niagara, 150. Ohio, 
38, 50, 53, 59, 67, 74, 111, 117, 
202, 206, 207, 253; lands, 1, 5; 
forks, 18, 171; affluents, 6, 11; 
Indians, 140; as boundary, 61, 
87, 107, 112, 130, 156, 206, 219; 
guarded, 195, 246; scouting, 208, 
211, 213, 231; troops, 215, 240; 
expedition, 144, 145, 226, 228. 
Potomac, 203, 232, 234. Roan- 
oke, 169. St. Lawrence, 81. Salt 
(Ky.), 180. Sandusky, 36, 46, 
80, 86, 143. Sandy— see Sandy 
Creek. Scioto, 57, 63, 81, 188, 
217, 218, 254. Sorel, 134. Sus- 
quehanna, 46. Tennessee, 3, 6, 
63, 99, 109. Tuscarawas, 45, 46, 
199. Wabash, 3, 56, 80, 141, 158. 
Watauga, 1, 2, 173. 

Rives, William C, 25. 

Rives, Mrs. William C, Tale of 

our Ancestors, 25. 
Roads, Wilderness, 2, 9. 
Robertson, James, 3. 
Robinson, Lieut. — , 205. 
Robinson (Robertson), Capt. 

James, 168, 169, 192. 
Robinson, Capt. John, 230, 231. 
Rocheblave, Philippe de, 141. 
Rockford, Pennsylvania estate, 

257. 
Rockingham County (Va.), 209. 



2.^2 



INDEX 



Rogers, Col. David, 231-233, 236, 

239, 242. 
Rogers, James, 70. 
Roosevelt, Theodore, Winning of 

the West, 170. 
Ross, Alexander, 143. 
Rotunda. See War Post. 
Row, Adam, 220, 225. 
Row, Adam Jr., 225. 
Russell, Col. William, 167, 168, 

173, 175; commandant, 5-7, 12, 

104; letters, 12-17; letter to, 7; 

sketch, 1. 

St. Clair, Gen. Arthur, letters, 19, 
200; expedition of 1791, 41, 144. 
152, 230. 

Ste. Genevieve (Mo.), 143. 

St. Joseph (Mich.), 199. 

St. Leger, Barry, expedition, 131. 

St. Louis (Mo.), 226, 232, 248. 

Saginaw (Mich.), 201. 

Salem, Moravian town, 45. 

Salt Licks, Indian town, 56. 

Sanders, — , 102. 

Sandusky, towns, 55; Indians, 91, 
92; lower, 36; upper, 50, 91; ex- 
pedition, 231; news from, 218; 
sketch, 218. See also Fort and 
River Sandusky. 

Sandwich (Ont.), 41, 128, 147. 

Sault Ste. Marie (Mich, and Ont.), 
131. 

Savannah. See Camp Union. 

Schoharie (N. Y.), raid, 159. 

Schonbrunn (O.), 45. 

Schuyler, Gen. Philip. 24. 

Scott, Charles, 22. 

Seneca Indians, treat with Eng- 
lish, 65, 67; at Fort Pitt, 158- 
167, 172, 219; villages, 161; 
chiefs, 160; hostile, 158, 162. 
See also Iroquois and Mingo. 

Shade, Shawnee chief, 58, 60. 

Shaganaba, Ottawa chief, 89, 90. 

Sharpsburg (Pa.), 27. 

Shawanese Ben, 59. 



Shawnee Indians, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 
52, 66, 111, 112, 128, 129, 174; 
towns, 15, 26, 36, 40, 42, 56, 57, 
63, 101, 123, 176, 188, 190, 254; 
hostages, 11, 18, 120, 122, 129— 
see also Chenusaw, Cuttena, 
Newau ; apprehensive, 15, 16, 29 ; 
message to, 70, 71; at treaty of 

1775, 74, 80, 82, 85-87, 92, 94, 99, 
100, 108, 114, 116, 119-123; 
speeches to, 41-43, 58-60, 62, 98, 
101; agree to terms, 125; return 
prisoners, 152, 175; at treaty of 

1776, 158, 171, 217, 219; pacific, 
156, 188, 204; hostile, 190, 212, 
254; join raids, 63, 186, 189, 242; 
burn prisoner, 252; consulted, 
237; removal, 144. See also 
Cornstalk, and Nimwha. 

Shelby, Capt. Evan, 179. 

Shenandoah Valley, 11, 196. 

Shenango. See Logstown. 

Shepherd, Col. David, commis- 
sary, 221, 224, 225, 228, 245, 253 
county lieutenant, 232-235, 252 
commands expedition, 238, 239 
letters, 242-244; letters to, 195, 
196, 247, 248, 252; sketch, 196. 

Shepherd, Thomas, 196. 

Shepherdstown (Va.), 198. 

Shingas, Delaware chief, 200. 

Shippensburgh (Pa.), 61. 

Shores, Thomas, 242. 

Silverheels, Shawnee chief, 41. 

Simms, Col. Charles, 153. 

Simple (Simplicus Bocquet). PSre, 
147, 148. 

Simpson, — , 246. 

Six Nations. See Iroquois. 

Skelton, Joseph, 258. 

Smyth, John F. D., 138, 139. 

Snake. Mingo chief, 48. 

Snake, Shawnee chief, 58. 

South Carolina, governor, 138. 

Speed, Thomas, Wilderness Road, 
2. 

Spotswood, Alexander, 22. 



INDEX 



273 



Spottsylvania County (Va.), 246. 

Springer, Drusilla, 230. 

Springhill, Virginia estate, 10, 12. 

Springhlll Township (Pa.), 229. 

Stedman, — , 133. 

Steel, Andrew, 226, 227. 

Stephen, Col. Adam, 6, 20; letter, 
65; Indian commissioner, 30, 34; 
at treaty of Fort Pitt, 81, 82, 90, 
100, 105, 112, l:^; among Shaw- 
nee, 108; sketch, 6. 

Sterling, James, 148, 149. 

Stilwell, Samuel, 225. 

Stone, Mingo chief, 102. 

Stuart, John, British Indian 
agent, 138. 

Stuart (Stewart), Capt. John, 205, 
214; militia officer, 181, 192, 206; 
letters, 177, 178, 181-183, 193, 194, 
197-199, 239-241; letters to, 179, 
180, 184, 211, 212. 

Sullivan, Gen. John, 161. 

Sulpician missionaries, 131. 

Surrahawa, Wyandot, 52. 

Swearingen, John, 229, 230. 

Swearingen, Van, 201, 230. 



Tabb, John, 23. 

Taimenend, Morgan's Indian 

name, 32. 
Tate, Samuel, Kentucky pioneer, 

9. 
Taway Indians. See Ottawa. 
Tawixatwee Indians. See Miami. 
Taylor, Hancock, 154. 
Taylor, Maj. Henry, 233, 238, 239. 
Tays, Thomas, messenger, 12. 
Teagarden, Abram, 235. 
Teagarden, William, 235. 
Tecumseh, birthplace, 63. 
Templeton, James, 210, 213. 
Tennessee, settlement, 3. 
Tetepuska, Delaware, 126. 
Thompson, Lieut. — , 197, 204, 241. 
Thompson, William, 143. 
Thwaites, R. G., Daniel Boone, 2, 
18 



77; Early Wettern TraveUt 29; 
Jesuit Relatione, 148 ; Withers'8 
Chronicles, 251. 

Tinkling Spring, church, 12. 

Todd, John, 154. 

Todd, Levi, 154. 

Tomlinson, Joseph, 224. 

Touraighwaghti. See Jehu Hay. 

Tracy, Alexander de ProuviUe, 
Marquis de, 172. 

Transylvania Company, 1-4; leg- 
islature, 227. 

Treaties: Bouquet's (1764), 27, 
38, 41, 80, 118, 124. Camp Char- 
lotte (1774), 18, 34, 49, 106, 121, 
122. Conestoga (1718), 46. Fort 
Harmar (1789), 80, 159. Fort 
Mcintosh (1785), 80. Fort Ni- 
agara (1775), 65, 67-70. Fort 
Oswego (1777), 65, 159, 160. Fort 
Stanwix (1768), 5, 31, 53, 61, 99, 
171; (1784), 159, 160. Greenville 
(1795), 41, 80, 91. Jay's (1794), 
132. Lancaster (1748), 124. 
Logstown (17o4), 171. Paris 
(1783), 150. Pittsburgh (1775), 
25-127, 152. British report, 127- 
130, 135; (1776), 46, 189, 191. 196. 
202, 206, 216-219. Watauga 
(Sycamore Shoals, 1775), 1-3. 

Trent, Maj. William, 171. 

Tucker, William, 203. 

Tuscarawas County (O.), 45. 

Twlgtwee Indians. See Miami. 

Twitty, Capt. William, 9. 



Uniontown (Pa.), 234. 
Urbana (O.), founded, 240. 



Van Bibber, Isaac, 177. 
Van Bibber, Jacob, 177. 
Van Bibber, John, 177. 
Van Bibber, Matthias, 177. 
Van Bibber, Peter, 177, 180, 182, 
193. 



274 



INDEX 



Van Buren (Pa.), 235. 

Van Meter family, 196. 

Vandalia (111.), 228. 

Venango County (Pa.), 163. 

Vineennes (Ind.), 128, 130, 136. 
149. 

Virgin, Capt. Reazin, 207. 

Virginia, 2, 83, 84; boundary, 2, 
18, 141; militia, 8, 9; education 
in, 10; religious liberty, 215; 
convention, 21, 66, 67, 143, 153, 
155, 167, 168, 174; assembly, 3, 
8, 13, 16, 18, 196, 206, 232, 234; 
council, 190, 230, 233, 236, 239, 
240; endangered, 130; buys 
lands, 53; Kentucky part of, 4, 
8 ; Gazette, 11 ; House Journal, 
3 ; Magazine, 43 ; State Records, 
212. 

Waddell, Rev. James, 10, 12. 

VTalapachakin, Delaware chief, 88. 

Walker, Felix, 9. 

Walker, John, commissioner, 20, 
28-31, 34; at treaty, 81, 82, 90, 
100, 105; speech, 94-100; sketch, 
20. 

Walker, Dr. Thomas, explores 
Kentucky, 2, 246; home, 43; de- 
scendants, 25; Indian commis- 
sioner, 20, 23, 24, 27, 30, 34, 39, 
42, 81, 82, 90, 100, 105, 112, 126, 
127; speeches, 105-107, 110, 116- 
119, 122, 125, 135; committee 
of safety, 146; commissioner 
(1776), 191. 

Wallace, Andrew, 194, 198, 204. 

Walnut Hills, Virginia estate, 234. 

War Post (Rotunda), Wyandot 
chief, 51-55. 

Wars: French and Indian (1754- 
63), 4, 15, 20, 28, 36, 38, 56, 65, 
131, 134, 136, 148, 152, 173, 183, 
191, 200, 230. King George's 
(1744-48), 171; 1812-15, 150, 151, 
159, 161. See also Pontiac's 
Conspiracy. 



Ward, Edward, 171. 

Ward, Capt. James, 240. 

Ward, John, 231. 

Ward, Lieut. William, 240. 

Warren (Pa.), 160. 

Warren County (N. J.), 144. 

Warrior Ford, 180, 182, 198, 199. 

Washington, George, 34; In 
French and Indian War, 22; 
visits West, 5, 26-28, 162, 207; 
commander of Revolutionary 
Army, 143-145, 215, 249, 256; ap- 
pointment, 78; receives chiefs, 
159, 161; letter to, 19; donation, 
10. 

Washington, Col. William, 17. 

Washington Academy. See Au- 
gusta Academy. 

Washington and Lee University, 
10. 

Washington (Pa.), 233. 

Washington County (Pa.), 32, 207, 
228, 231, 233, 235. 

Washington County (Va.)» 8. 

Wasson (Owasso), Chippewa 
chief, 201. 

Watauga, settlement, 179. 

Wayne, Gen. Anthony, campaign 
(1794), 41, 44, 75, 151, 233, 235, 
253. 

Weiser, Conrad, 26, 28. 131. 

Wells, Alexander, 218. 

Wells, Richard, 218. 

Wernock, James, 210, 213. 

West Augusta (Va.), 18, 22, 37, 
153, 200, 212, 232, 250; commit- 
tee, 171; captain, 146; regiment, 
215, 250; divided into counties, 
223. 

West Virginia, boundary, 6; His- 
torical Magazine, 183, 184, 196. 

Westmoreland County (Pa.), 18, 
61, 74, 175, 176, 189, 200, 234. 

Wewelatimiha, Shawnee, 126. 

Wheeling (W. Va.), 196; garri- 
son, 13, 22, 214, 232, 242-244; 
stores, 252; early settlers, 203, 



INDEX 



275 



232; depredations near, 210, 217, 
250, 254. See also Forts Pin- 
castle and Henry. 

Whiskey Rebellion (1794), 22, 191, 
221, 228, 234, 2.53. 

White Eyes, Delaware chief, 19, 
38, 61; town, 45, 46, 63; mes- 
sage to, 71-74, 79, 80, 137; at 
treaty, 82; speeches, 40, 41, 84, 
85-89, 99, 100, 120, 121, 123-E5; 
with Wilson, 202-204. 

White Mingo,, Seneca chief, 27-33, 
39; house, 67; speeches, 40, 77; 
speeches to, 77, 79; sketch, 27. 

Whitefish, Shawnee chief, 103. 

Whiting, Mary, 239. 

Wilkins, Col. John, 137. 

William and Mary College, 238. 

Williams, Benjamin, 159. 

Williams, James, 224. 

Williams, Jarret, 179. 

Williams, John, 224. 

Williamsburgh (Va.), 8, 11, 18, 35, 
40, 41, 126, 143, 146, 155, 180, 189, 
196, 209, 210, 214-216, 223, 232, 
236, 238, 239, 247. 

Williamsport. See Monongahela 
City. 

Willis, George, 231. 

Wilson, — . 239. 

Wilson, James, Indian commis- 
sioner, 23, 24, 82, 90; speech, 
77-79; sketch, 77; portrait, 90. 

Wilson, William, 202, 203. 

Winchester (Va.l, 20, 22, 42, 43, 
65, 207, 255. 

Windsor (Ont.), 44. 

Wingenund, Delaware chief, 46, 
126; town, 202. 

Winston, Alice, 7. 

Winston, Dorothea D., 7. 

Winston, Edmund, letter, 7. 

Winston, William, 7. 

Wirt, William, Letters of a Brit- 
ish Spy, 12. 



Wisconsin, Indians, 15, 62; fur- 
trade, 150; Historical Collec- 
tions, 127, 226. 

Wolf. See Cuttena. 

Wood, James, commissioner, 20, 
34, 81, 82, 90, 100, 105, 112, 127; 
visits Indians, 34-66; in danger, 
49, 50; investigates charges, 28- 
31, 33; rewarded, 67; brings 
message, 27, 39; diary, 25, 34- 
66; sketch, 20. 

Woodford, William, 21. 

Wright, Lieut. — , 192. 

Wryneck, Shawnee chief, 41. 

Wyandot (Huron, Petun, Tobac- 
co) Indians, towns, 36, 44, 50, 
53, 55, 56, 66, 143, 202, 203, 218; 
whites among, 203; language, 
130. 147; divisions, 36, 218; in- 
terpreter, 128; treat with Eng- 
lish, 44, 47, 52, 54, 55, 155; mes- 
sage to, 39; firm, 70, 101, 102; 
at treaty of 1775, 76, 80, 82, 85-87, 
92, 94, 108, 110, 113, 114, 116, 119, 
126; speeches to, 50, 51, 81, 82, 
97, 109; respected, 130; neutral, 
203; hostile, 102, 106, 156, 199, 
201, 210, 219, 254; not at treaty 
of 1776, 217; sketch, 36. 

Wyoming (Pa.), raided, 152, 159- 
161. 

Wythe, George, 23. 



Yeates, Jaspj^r, 191. 

Yohogania County (Va.), 171, 221: 

erected, 223. 226; officers, 229, 

233, 238; militia, 230. 
York (Va.). 20. 
Yorktown (Va.), 187. 



Zane, Isaac, 203. 
Zanesville (O.), 203. 
Zeisberger. David, 45, 64, 202. 



Draper Series 



A series of volumes wherein are published for the 
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The volume gives a general survey of Indian affairs on the 
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The Revolution on the Upper Ohio, 1775-1777. 
The same editors as for Volume I. 12 mo., pp. 
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This is the first of two projected volumes, to be devoted to 
the conduct of the Revolution in this wide region. The doc- 
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forts and conducting their government, they at the same time 
promoted Western settlement. The Treaty of Pittsburgh 
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Distribution, the same as Volume I. A few additional copies 
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